A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation, features a cast of world champion Irish dancers. Seen here is "Vikings" with Ella Giammichele. The show will be performed at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St., Sunday at 4 p.m. Submitted photo

You may remember Riverdance, the show that showcased traditional Irish music and dance.

Well, Irish dance never went away. It still maintains its longevity.

Irish Dancer Mattie Pennington agrees.

“For me, the key to the longevity of Irish dancing is to continuously pass on traditional choreography and keep the Irish heritage alive,” Pennington said. “My favorite thing to see at shows is younger kids in the audience, knowing that it’s possible we are inspiring them to start Irish dancing too.”

Madison “Mattie” Pennington will showcase her talents with the international touring production A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music and Dance Sensation will take the stage at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St., Sunday at 4 p.m.

Pennington started Irish dancing when she was four years old and trained at the Rince Na Tiarna School of Irish dance in Buffalo. She has enjoyed success throughout her dance career, including top five placements at both the regional and national level. Competing throughout her career has allowed Mattie to travel the world including world-class competitions in both Scotland and Ireland.

She said, to become a great dancer, the longer one works at the craft, the more experienced one becomes.

“Everyone has their own story of their Irish dance career, so it’s never too late to start,” Pennington added. “I have been dancing for 15 years and have definitely learned a lot in that time. … Irish dance teaches so many life lessons outside of the dancing itself, including sportsmanship, work ethic, time management, and working with others. No matter how many years you spend dancing, it will be beneficial regardless.”

A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation offers audiences a look at current, active world champions at the height of their athletic careers – dancers straight out of competition circuits and major international productions, focused on both preserving tradition and pushing it to new limits.

“This show offers audiences an adventure through the heart and soul of Ireland, where every beat of music and every step of Irish dance shares a captivating journey,” show producer and director Brent Pace said in a prepared statement. “Each narrative is interwoven with dramatic lighting, breathtaking visual scenery, and performances that express the depth of these stories, so that audiences can appreciate Ireland’s rich history through movement, music, and dance.”

He added that the taps in the show are not pre-recorded, but are performed 100 percent live.

“Every performance is an exciting feat of excellence,” Pace said.

For ticket information visit reglenna.com or call 716-484-7070.