Tartan Terrors share culture with a modern twist

Fewer than 50 tickets are left for the music, dance and comedy show that will spread the Celtic Culture on Wednesday.

The Tartan Terror, a Celtic group, will be performing traditional dance and music with a modern twist at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Dwight Vaught, the assistant dean of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, said there are only a few tickets left for the show.

Vaught said the show is based in the Celtic traditions.

“They use what they know, which is their own life, their own culture, their own music and dance, and they do it very well, they are highly trained professionals.”

Vaught said the Tartan Terrors will perform these traditional songs and dances while also making fun of them.

“They may take a popular Irish song that we all know and change the words,” Vaught said. “They’ll come out in costumes and poke fun at the songs. It’s one of those shows we can all laugh at.”

Vaught said they also like to poke fun at themselves.

“They like to make fun of themselves, their heritage and traditions,” Vaught said. “They don’t take themselves very seriously, they are all just about entertainment.”

Ellen Wilkes Irmisch, one of the leaders of the Tartan Terrors, said the Tartan Terrors have been touring for 16 years.

“We are all about having fun, coming out and having a great time,” Irmisch said. “We have this great performance, kind of like “Saturday Night Live” meets river dance.”

Vaught said the group will also be dressed in traditional Celtic clothes and will play traditional instruments.

“What would a Celtic group be without bagpipes? So they wear kilts and play bagpipes,” Vaught said.

Vaught said students can learn about the Celtic culture.

“(They’ll understand) more of the culture, if they are not real familiar with this side of Irish culture,” Vaught said.

Irmisch agreed.

“The nice thing is it is a multicultural form of performance, so you get a chance to see Celtic music and the nice thing is you can see how everything old is new again,” Irmisch said.

Irmisch said she also wants to show students how to make music modern.

“There is some music that has been around for a very long time, and we are able to show students how you take something traditional and have such a great time adding base guitar and adding a drum kit,” Irmisch said. “The idea is you have this great traditional music, but it’s been funked up and it’s fun and entertaining,” Irmisch said.

Vaught said the Tartan Terrors like what they do.

“The strength of their art, while they don’t take themselves seriously, they do take their art seriously and their heritage and their culture, and they pay tribute to that without poking too much fun at it,” Vaught said.

Vaught said the show can help students view a different side of certain situations.

Vaught said the Tartan Terrors a naturally funny group that does not take themselves too seriously.

Vaught said. “I think that is a good lesson for all of us sometimes, we have to look at the funny side sometimes to make it through.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].