Something truly special is cultivated when dance and narrative come together to tell a story. This March, “Heartbeat of Home” delivers a stunning synthesis of both. The DePaulia had the opportunity to speak with cast member Shaunessy Sinnet in order to learn more about the production.

The DePaulia: I understand that this production is a kind of fusion of dance and storytelling. In what specific ways is it a combination of these two elements?

Shaunessy Sinnet: There is this thread through the whole show of people leaving their homeland and coming to a new world, this dream world. That is the story that threads all the way through ,and we portray that through dance. You’ll see in the first half, this journey on the sea of different cultures. They have their own style of dance. In the second half you will see how they mix all together. That is where the story really comes through in the second half and you get that fusion of afro-Cuban dance, of flamenco, of street dance and of course Irish dance.

DP: What is it like to travel from place to place with this show? Does the audience response vary widely in each new location?

SS: We have performed already in Dublin, Beijing, Shanghai and now we are here in Toronto. We have had a pretty consistently positive response in each of the cities. Certainly in China it was a different kind of response. We didn’t expect them to be quite as loud as a Dublin audience would be but we were very surprised when we were there. The reception was phenomenal; they were on their feet and they were clapping. I think it is a fun show, and no matter what the audience is, you can’t help but get on your feet at the end and cheer along with us.

DP: Can you tell me a little bit about your role within the production?

SS: I am one of the troupe Irish dancers in the show. There are about 18 of us, and we are a big chunk of the show in that we kind of pull things together with the Irish dance. You’ve got all of the other different styles but then it is all coming back at the end with the whole troupe dancing a bit of Irish dance. As troupe Irish dancers in this show it is unique in that we are a collection of individuals, not just a face in a crowd. You’ll know one troupe Irish dancer from the next based on the way their makeup is or their own personality that they are bringing to the table. That is unique to the show and certainly different than other Irish dance shows.

DP: What has been your very favorite thing about being a part of this production?

SS: I think it’s the people. It makes a huge difference when you’ve got a group of people, whether it be in production or wardrobe or the crew, who are absolute experts in their particular field, and that is so inspiring in that it makes you strive to be better. We all have so much fun. I think we’ve really had a special group of people in that they are extremely talented but also so down-to-earth. It’s such a great group and I think it makes this experience that much more special.

DP: What role has dancing and performing played in your life this far and where do you see it going from here?

SS: It’s been the focus point of my life since I can remember. I was definitely always focused on school as well, but dance was always something that I knew I was supposed to be doing. I would finish school in the day time and then we would drive an hour and a half to dance lessons three or four times a week because I was in a small town next to the city. My parents, my sister and I put in so many hours and financially we have so much invested in dance and in performance that it only made sense to go this route. It’s what my sister and I were passionate about, and I think that’s where your drive comes from.

DP: If you could offer one piece of advice to your audiences before they see the production, what would it be?

SS: Read the program. I’ve had family and friends come to Toronto who have a lot of questions about a certain number that could have been answered by a quick glance at the outline of the show. Just read the title of the numbers and have a sense of what style it is and you will get the idea of the journey throughout the show.

“Heartbeat of Home” will be at the Oriental Theatre March 4-16, 2014.