James Devine
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James Devine is a dancer, choreographer and director. Synonymous in the world of dance for his tapping speed and precision, he earned a Millennium Guinness World Record entry as the fastest dancer that has ever lived.
A master Irish dancer and performer, it is Devine's unique style of Celtic Tap (a fusion of Irish dance with Rhythm Tap) that has earned him critical acclaim worldwide. His signature tap has been likened to manic typewriters, talking drums and tap tornado.
Critics throughout the world have acclaimed him as the modern day Fred Astaire.[1] He has appeared on major television shows worldwide including the Oscar ceremony of the 69th Annual Academy Awards, and his choreography has been featured on television and theatre stages the world over.
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[edit] Early years
Irish-born Devine followed in his mother's footsteps when he had his first dance lesson at the age of eight. Having lost the strength in her legs due to an illness, his mother (a former champion dancer) used her fingers to tap out the rhythms of a beat on the back of his hand. He repeated the patterns with his feet.
By the age of 14, he achieved the highest honour bestowed on an Irish Dancer by winning "the Grand Slam" — World, American, British, All-Ireland and Munster Titles. In a competitive career that continued until the age of sixteen he consecutively won three World, five American, three British, seven Munster and All-Ireland titles.
Between 1992 and 1995 he taught in Ireland, also giving masterclasses in Europe, Australia and North America. He also began working at the IWMC (Irish World Music Centre) at the University of Limerick, Ireland.
[edit] Tours with Michael Flatley
In 1996 James was approached by Michael Flatley to star in his new show, Lord of the Dance. He toured the USA, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, performing to over one million people while receiving numerous awards along the way.
In 1997 the dancer from Ireland went to New York where he came into contact with other areas of music and dance. It was during this period that he began an artistic collaboration with other world renowned tap dancers and developed his own style of Irish Tap fusion.
[edit] GaelForce
In January 1998, James was invited to go to Australia to choreograph and perform the lead role for the world tour of the hit dance show GaelForce. He went on to take the production to its Australian, USA, Canadian, New Zealand, German and Polish premières. James toured with the show for two years, performing in many renowned theatres and venues worldwide, on occasion receiving standing ovations of up to twenty minutes in length.
With the success of Devine's choreography, GaelForce was hailed by the press as "the Ferrari of the Irish dance world"[2] due to speed, precision and the fact that it was the first Irish dance show to have live tapping.
[edit] World record — Fastest Tap Dancer
On 1998-05-25, when James was 21, he became the fastest dancer in the world when he executed 38 taps per second in a dance display in Sydney, Australia. This tap dancing record is officially endorsed by Guinness World Records.[3]
[edit] James's solo career
As a soloist, James has performed over five hundred live shows around the globe in prestigious venues such as Radio City Music Hall (New York City) and The Royal Albert Hall (London). He was also the first ever male dancer outside the opera and ballet art form, to perform at the Opera Naradowa (Grand Theatre) in Warsaw, Poland in its two hundred year history.
He has featured solo on numerous high profile television shows in the USA, Canada, Germany, Poland, England, Australia and New Zealand. Highlights include special guest appearances on Wayne Gretzky Sports Night Live Show (Canada), The Good Morning Show, Nightline, Holmes, Ice TV and Backch@t (New Zealand), The Late Late Show (RTE1), Ireland AM (TV3) and RTE1 National News (Ireland).
James has featured on numerous German television shows, including Sommermelodien (ARD), Wunschbox (ARD), Aktuelle Schaubude (NDR) and Wunschkonzert (ZDF). In Poland he has featured on all national television channels including Tea & Coffee (TVP1), Wronski BEAT (TVP3), VIP (TVP4), TVP Kanal Kultura. Other major TV shows include The Royal Gala Performance for HRH the Prince of Wales (London, England) and The Des O'Connor Show (London, England).
Following his passion for rhythm he enjoys music and plays a variety of traditional instruments, including the bodhran (Irish drum) and the tin whistle. He also has a fascination for digital design and photography and is a qualified web designer.
In 2003 he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland and immediately became a member of the teaching faculty at Dance Base Studios.
Being constantly in demand, James now continues his dancing independently, pursuing personal projects around the world. Recent highlights include Edinburgh Fringe Workshops 2004, solo concert performances with six-time Grammy Award winning artist Jose Feliciano and the opening performance to Toni & Guy's Hair Fashion Show in Ireland.
[edit] Latest news
In 2005 he was invited as special guest artist in the Irish music and dance spectacular "RAGUS" in Eastern Europe.
In August 2006 James Devine along with grunge fiddle player Ashley MacIsaac and multi-percussionist Dave Boyd perform for four weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the world premiere of TAPEIRE; the next generation in performance Irish tap fusing the sounds of dance, fiddle, vocals and percussion. TAPEIRE - Driven By Rhythm is created, produced and directed by James Devine
