Photo Courtesy of Joan Marcus The audience packed Centennial Hall opening night to see the performances in "Riverdance." It will play through Sunday.

"Riverdance" has arrived. And with it, of course, comes Irish dance. But the show also incorporates Spanish flamenco, Russian folk and American tap.

Even with their busy schedules, two of the lead dancers of "Riverdance" talked to the Wildcat to discuss their lives behind the scenes.

Co-lead dancer Anthony Sharkey, originally from Ennis, Ireland, has been performing in "Riverdance" for more than five years and has danced the lead for three.

Tap dancer Aaron Tolson is from Manchester, N.H., and joined "Riverdance" four years ago. Tolson has been dancing since the age of 10 and attributes his success to the help of mentors like Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Julia Boynton and Derek Grant.

Tolson has performed in numerous shows, including "Bring in ÎDa Noise, Bring in ÎDa Funk," "Stomp" and "Tap Dogs." He is also a choreographer and teaches young tap dancers in the making.

"Riverdance" opened Tuesday to a packed house and will run through Sunday.

Q&A with Anthony Sharkey

Wildcat: Have you ever fallen or had an embarrassing moment on stage?

Sharkey: Yeah, I've fallen quite a few times, but I've never been injured. I've been pretty fortunate. But you just get up and keep going. You smile, you know, and try and pretend it never happened.

Wildcat: When you're not dancing, what do you do for fun?

Sharkey: A lot of us like shopping. A good few of the guys play golf. When the weather is warm, we're just up at a pool all the time.

Wildcat: I have kind of an abstract question for you now. I've always imagined dancing the lead of "Riverdance" in my underwear. How do you suppose I go about trying to do that?

Sharkey: How would you go about doing that? Ahh · (Laughs)

Wildcat: Yeah, dancing your part, I mean.

Sharkey: That's a tricky question, a very abstract question. Well, if you put on your own little "Riverdance" show and advertise it as "The Nude Riverdance" or something, you might get away with it.

Wildcat: Not nude, just my underwear.

Sharkey: Then, underwear, I suppose. If you'd like to do it in Tucson for me, I'd be more than welcome.

Wildcat: How do you get along with the other dancers?

Sharkey: Everybody gets on really well. We are good friends deep down. Whenever you need a friend, they're always there for you.

Wildcat: If you and Aaron Tolson, the tap dancer, were in a dance-off, who do you think would win?

Sharkey: I would say I would have to win. He's good competition, but I think I'd be edging him.

Q&A with Aaron Tolson

Wildcat: Have you ever fallen or had an embarrassing moment on stage?

Tolson: Yes, well of course. Fallen, definitely, and it seems to always involve the staircase at the top of the number. But nothing terribly tragic. Embarrassing of course, but not tragic.

Wildcat: So when you're not "hoofin'" it on stage, what do you like to do for fun?

Tolson: I spend a good deal of time researching my favorite basketball team, the Boston Celtics. I play my fair share of Playstation and of course do my fair share of shopping.

Wildcat: Is there rivalry between you and any of the other dancers?

Tolson: Nah. There's really good friendships, I can tell you that. And we have a really good time up there. There might be fun rivalries up there because, you know, it is a challenge to go up there every night, and we are pretty much competing against each other up there. But I wouldn't say there are any rivalries. I've been here far too long and shown my stuff far too many times.

Wildcat: Did you see "You Got Served," that movie?

Tolson: Did I get served?

Wildcat: No! Did you see the movie?

Tolson: Oh. No, I didn't.

Wildcat: Well, have you ever seen that happen?

Tolson: I haven't seen the movie, so I can't honestly comment on that ·

Wildcat: Dance competitions, man. Dance competitions.

Tolson: Dance competitions? Yeah, I mean, I remember that stuff happening in dance companies when I was little and when I was competing in that sense. I think that kind of thing happens every night when we're on stage.

Wildcat: Who do you think would win if you were ever in a dance challenge with Anthony Sharkey?

Tolson: Baby, I'm in a challenge with him at least three times a week. I'd say you'd have to come and see and judge for yourself.