EMMA FRAMPTON (Saxophone) Since graduating from Leeds College of Music with a BA (Hons)
in Jazz, Emma has relocated to London and in eight years has established herself as a much in-demand
session musician. Emma has toured throughout the World for Hedkandi, & Fierce Angel, as well as
performing with Olly Murs, John Newman, Busted, Mr Hudson, The Ting Tings, and Patrick Wolf to
name a few. Emma is looking forward to being part of Riverdance’s North America Tour in 2018.
The Riverdance Russian Folk Dance Troupe
The Riverdance Russian Folk Dance Troupe combines elegance and grace with verve, dynamism and
joyous physicality. The company’s dancers come from a diverse mix of cultural backgrounds. What
they have in common is a dedication to dance and many years of training and performance in pursuit
of perfection in their chosen art. Working as individual performers, they have come together for
Riverdance, where they will share their individual talents and fuse the many elements that have gone
into the development of their own unique style of dance.
The Riverdance Flamenco Soloist
ROCIO MONTOYA started dancing at age four in Granada, Spain. At twenty one, she graduated
from El Conservatorio Profesional de Danza, Granada and began working professionally with various
fl amenco companies and artists including Compañia Andaluza de Danza, Flamencos en Route, Mario
Maya and Rafaela Carrasco. Rocio has also created her own works. In 2006, she premiered Acordes
Pintados con Palabras and currently has an ongoing show Alhambra Baila. Rocio has performed all
over the world as a featured fl amenco soloist in Riverdance and most recently added Heartbeat of
Home to her credits as a fl amenco artist/choreographer.
The Riverdance Tappers
DEWITT FLEMING, JR. (Baritone / Tapper) is an acclaimed tap dancer, and has performed and
taught throughout the world. He has danced as a soloist with Grammy Award®-winning artists such
as Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Marvin Hamlisch, Christian McBride, the Lincoln Centre Jazz
Orchestra, and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks to name a few. The New York Times calls him “a
non-stop source of rhythmic variety and surprise ... sparks seem to fl y from those shoes!”
TYLER KNOWLIN is a professional tap dancer from Connecticut. He attended The Hartford
Academy for the Arts, where he was introduced to rhythm tap and given the opportunity to train with
masters such as Jimmy Slyde and Gregory Hines. At 14, Tyler performed at New York City’s fi rst
annual tap festival, Tap City. Tyler’s east coast performances include Jacob’s Pillow, The Bushnell,
Charter Oak Cultural Center, Playhouse on Park, The Duke Theater, and Lincoln Center. In 2007,
Tyler moved to San Francisco. He taught for City Dance Studios and ODC Dance. In 2013, Tyler
taught and performed in Brazil. Tyler was most recently a featured performer in Hillary Marie’s
original show Soul Walk. Tyler would like to thank everyone who has supported him on this amazing
journey.
BILL WHELAN (Composer) As a composer, Bill Whelan has written extensively for theatre, dance,
fi lm and the concert stage. His fi lm work includes Dancing at Lughnasa starring Meryl Streep, Some
Mother’s Son featuring Helen Mirren and Lamb with Liam Neeson. Music for television includes The
Seven Ages, a history of the Irish State. He was appointed composer to the W.B. Yeats International
Theatre Festival at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1989, writing original music for 15 Yeats plays. His
adaptation of HMS Pinafore received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
The Seville Suite, Whelan’s fi rst large-scale orchestral work, was commissioned for Ireland’s National
Day at Expo ’92 and was performed at Maestranza in Seville. The Spirit of Mayo followed in 1993 and
The Connemara Suite, a trilogy of pieces written for chamber orchestra, premiered in Carnegie Hall in
March 2005. Bill Whelan’s Symphonic Suite from Riverdance received its fi rst performance in 2013.
Bill’s production and arranging credits include U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris, Planxty,
The Dubliners and many traditional world musicians and performers. He was honoured with the 1997
Grammy Award® for ‘Best Musical Show Album’ for the lyrics and music of Riverdance. The album is
a certifi ed Platinum record in the U.S., Ireland and Australia.
TICKETS: 813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG 45