By Jennifer Whiteway

PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – The captivating Irish dance show Atlantic Steps makes its American theater debut on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.in the Don P. Pence Center for Visual & Performing Arts.

Atlantic Steps tells the story of “sean-nós” (old style), which is Ireland’s oldest dance form, through the music, song and energetic dances of the Connemara Region.

Brian Cunningham, the lead dancer of Atlantic Steps, has played a huge role in bringing this wonderful display of dance style, skill and athleticism to audiences worldwide. He, and his siblings, began dancing the old-style as a pastime that they learned from their grandparents – a tradition from the days of house dances.

The Cunningham family brought this exciting new dance show to the United States for the first time when they toured Irish festivals in the Midwest in 2012.

Now Pence Center patrons have the opportunity to see Atlantic Steps in a theater for the first time anywhere in the United States.

Tickets for this event are $20 and available online at http://atlanticsteps.eventbrite.com. Some tickets may be available at the door; however, patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

The newly-renovated Pence Center is located on the Signal Peak Campus at 8470 N. Overfield Road between the cities of Coolidge and Casa Grande just east of Interstate 10.