Bringing their joy of Irish step dance to the Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival, Solas An Lae, a group of young women from New York's Hudson Valley, merges awe-inspiring rhythms with a flair for contemporary theatricality. The Solas An Lae ("Light of Day" in Gaelic) School of Irish dance was founded by Deirdre Lowry in 1998. Their exploration of fresh and exciting choreographic themes, original costuming and progressive musical score has resulted in what critics are hailing as "The New Breed of Contemporary Irish Dance." Spear-headed by Deirdre Lowry (founder, choreographer) and Patrick Brown (artistic and musical director) and Ellen Verdibello (choreographer,) Solas an Lae has become one of the most moving and exciting advancements in Irish dance performance. A company of ten dancers, these veteran students of Lowry's acclaimed School of Irish dance embrace not only the rhythmic power of the tradition's percussive tap, but draw drama and depth from its graceful counterpart, the soft shoe. Solas An Lae is impressive proof that Irish dance continues to experience an exciting revitalization, adapting itself not only to the mantle of popular culture, but ensuring its future as a dignified model of physical and artistic expression in dance. The 35-minute performance of original choreography uses traditional and contemporary Irish music, as well as tunes from unexpected acts such as Moby and Jethro Tull.