“Spirit of the Dance” is smashing box office records across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Canada. Now the Irish dance spectacular will hit central Iowa, as it is performed tonight at Stephens Auditorium.

The show is one of the most successful to come out of Ireland and has just completed its third international season.

“From what I’ve heard it is quite a big, spectacular show,” said Patricia Cotter, marketing and public relations coordinator for Iowa State Center. “If you’re new to dance, the variety is a fun thing to see.”

The production features an average of 30 performers from the Irish International Dance Company, which is considered one of the most dynamic dance troupes in the world, Cotter explained. These dancers wrap the Irish flair with tap, jazz, classical ballet and flamenco.

Unlike other Irish dance productions, such as the famous “Riverdance,” “Spirit of the Dance” has a story line — one of a girl who must find her true love.

According to Cotter, the performance weaves together a variety of styles of dance. “You would have to go to two or three different shows to see the same variety again,” she said.

Cotter added that she thinks Irish dancing is still very popular since “Riverdance” made its big splash.

On the Iowa State campus there are a variety of similar dance clubs. The Scottish Country Dancers of Central Iowa meet at the Forker building on Monday nights at 7 p.m.

David Dickson, director of the Scottish Country Dancers of Central Iowa, said Irish dancing has some similarities to Scottish.

“Both are tied to folk dance,” he said, adding that both come from Celtic folk dance. While Scottish country dancing focuses on outward moments and steps, the style of Irish dance performed by “Spirit of the Dance” is more of an up and down movement, he explained

“Scottish dancing is moving from the hips down,” said Holly Fuchs, a teacher for Scottish Country Dancers of Central Iowa. “Irish dancing is moving from the knees down,”

Fuchs added that Irish dance is more of an individual dance, and each individual works to make a whole. Scottish dancing, on the other hand, is more of a group participation dance.