“Riverdance” is one of the most famous and iconic Irish step
dancing shows in the world. It premiered at Eurovision in 1994 and
has captivated audiences since. The full-length show premiered in Dublin’s
Point Theatre in 1995. The United States debut took place a year later in New
York City at Radio City Music Hall.
The show was originally a seven-minute Eurovision show
produced by Moya Doherty. She decided to come up with a dance number to
showcase modern Ireland beyond just green hills. The seven-minute slot is often
referred to as “The Seven Minutes That Shook Ireland.”
Doherty also wanted to modernizeIrish dance. She saw that it was rooted in tradition, which inspired her to
add a more modern twist to the dance style. The show features high kicks and the
movement of arms, which did not occur in traditional dancing. Traditionally,
Irish step dancers would keep their arms at their side and not perform high
kicks in order to hide their dancing.
“Riverdance” was choreographed by Michael Flatley, who was
also a principal dancer in the show. Jean Butler was also hired for the
Eurovision number. Bill Whelan composed the music for “Riverdance.”
The show explores Irish roots in the first half. In
the second half of the show, there is a theme of the Irish diaspora and staying
connected to Irish culture, no matter where you are in the world. It also hints
at Irish influences on American culture, including the development of tap dancing.
Since its origins, “Riverdance” has made its mark on the
dancing world. In 1997, it was a Grammy for “Best Musical Show Album.” The show
marked its 10,000th performance in 2010. In 2013, the show set a
record for the longest line of step dancers at 1693 dancers!
“Riverdance” continues to inspire audiences and dancers
around the world. Musicians such as Brian Dunphy and Darren Holden, both of the
band the High Kings, have performed with “Riverdance.” The show continues to
tour and is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary with
performances around the world. Irish dancers perform to the show’s music in
their dance performances.
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