thePULSEBy Christine R. Walsh
The incredibly talented step dancers and musicians of The Stepcrew will be stomping and fiddling their way into Mechanics Hall this April, much to the delight of anyone who has witnessed the awesome rhythmic power of this group in person or has simply heard of them by reputation.
The StepCrew has been touring around North America since its inception during the summer of 2007. Pulse Magazine managed to nab one sassy step dancer/ fiddler, Stephanie Cadman, as she was just settling down in her Concord, NH hotel room after a long day of travel. Cadman, 26, revealed the secrets of The StepCrew and gave the lowdown about life on the road.
“There are five of us that formed the company two years ago and we are all childhood friends,” said Cadman. “For the past ten years we’ve all been part of different shows, some of us are in the Chieftains, John and I are in Bow Fire, we’ve been in musicals. Finally we were tired of working under other people so we decided to create this show. All of us sat down over drinks one night and said why not.”
The dancers and musicians gathered for a two week workshop in Toronto shortly after that meeting and begin creating the elaborate show numbers. After a period of intense workshopping in June of 2007, they were ready to hit the road. But life on the stage and in the tour bus was not new to Cadman. Even at the age of 26, she had been dancing since she was 4, fiddling since 5 ~ so she’s already a showbiz veteran.
“Growing up, I was heavily involved in musicals and I took up jazz, tap and singing and kept the fiddling going,” said Cadman. “So I was doing a little bit of everything. For the first five years I was doing Bow Fire, which is all fiddling, and then I was doing musical theatre on the side. I did the Broadway National tour of 42nd Street. Just now I’ve started veering into creating my own stuff.”
Cadman, a modest and delightfully sweet woman, acknowledges how difficult the many intricate steps and musical numbers may seem to an audience member. But to her and the rest of the group, it’s a collection of movements done without a second thought.
“Because some of the members of the group have been doing it for so long, it’s all muscle memory at this point,” she said.
No matter how practiced the performers are, there is no arguing that the dance numbers of The StepCrew are physically demanding.
“It’s a very high energy, high impact show,” Cadman said. “You really have to take care of yourself. With some other shows, it’s easier to come in a little tired and still be able to get through it. But StepCrew is so demanding. We usually have early dinners and then spend an hour warming up and then make sure we’re good to go. This really takes a lot out of you.”
The late nights, the grueling rehearsals and the naps on the buses aren’t the only thing that can keep a spirit down. Cadman, who is happily involved in a three year relationship, often finds herself resorting to non-traditional methods to grab a date night with her sweetheart.
“Webcams,” Cadman stated. “I don’t know what people did ten years ago without them. It’s so nice to see your loved one before you go to bed and to chat face-to-face. Technology is wonderful. [Using] our cell phones is huge. Our bills are huge.”
But Cadman would never give up life on the stage for two very special reasons. The audiences, she said, give her so much joy. And there is another sort of loving energy she feels while performing:
“My grandmother passed on,” said Cadman, “I swear some nights I feel her in the audience. She was such a huge part of my growing up. She and my grandfather were always supporting me. I definitely feel very close with them when I am on stage.”
The StepCrew will be coming to Mechanics Hall on April 8, 2008. For more information, go to www.musicworcester.org or check out The StepCrew on Youtube.com.
