Riverdance

Few shows have touched audiences like Riverdance. A celebration of Irish music, song and dance, the show focuses on the evolution of Irish dance and its similarities with, and influences on, other cultures. The phenomenon of Riverdance draws on Irish traditions and combines the richness of the music with the magic and sensuality of the dance.

Riverdance was originally conceived as a spectacular seven-minute intermission entertainment for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest televised throughout Europe to an audience of over 300 million viewers. Following the success of that performance, producer Moya Doherty, composer Bill Whelan, and director John McColgan, expanded the piece into a full-length stage production.

Riverdance had its world premiere at the Point Theatre, Dublin, in February, 1995, where it opened to unanimous critical acclaim. The show has taken the world by storm and to date, over 22 million people world-wide have seen Riverdance live. In addition, 10 million people have purchased video versions of the show, making it one of the best-selling entertainment videos in the world.