Riverdance is rooted in a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance. The suite was composed, recorded and performed for the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, which was held in Ireland.[1] At the time, Bill Whelan and Dónal Lunny composed the music, augmenting the Irish folk band Planxty with a rock rhythm section of electric bass and drums and a four-piece horn section. The piece was performed, with accompanying dancers from Dublin City Ballet,[2] during the interval of the contest, and later released as a Planxty single. Whelan had also produced EastWind, a 1992 album by Planxty member Andy Irvine with Davy Spillane, which fused Irish and Balkan folk music and influenced the genesis of "Riverdance".[3] After composing "Riverdance",[1] Whelan said, "It was no mistake of mine to call it Riverdance because it connected absolutely to Timedance".[4]
Riverdance was first performed during the seven-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 30 April 1994. The performance was transmitted to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide[5][6] and earned a standing ovation.[7][8] The performance is often considered the most well-known interval act in Eurovision history[9][10][11] and is credited with transforming Irish dance from a chaste and reserved traditional dance form into a new, modern form.[12] The original seven-minute version was invited to perform at Dominion Theatre in London at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Prince Charles in November 1994.[13]
Anúna performing in "Riverdance: The Show", February 1995
After witnessing the initial enthusiasm for the interval act performance in Ireland, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty invested over $1 million into producing a full-length show.[6] Tickets for the show were released for a five-week run and sold out within three days of going on sale.[7]
"Riverdance: The Show" opened at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 9 February 1995.[19] The show starred lead dancers Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. The video of the show topped the Irish and UK charts in 1995.[19]
The show moved to London in June 1995, where it had a sell-out four-week run at The Apollo.[20] During its time in London, Riverdance performed at the Royal Gala 50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations at the invitation of Prince Charles[21] and at the Royal College of Music in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II.[20]
The show returned to the Point Theatre in July 1995 for a sell-out six-week run.[20]
The show's growing success coincided with lead dancer Michael Flatley clashing with the producers over salary and royalty fees.[22] By early October 1995, a contract dispute over creative control led to Riverdance parting ways with Flatley on the eve of reopening for a second sell-out run at The Apollo.[23] He was replaced by Colin Dunne.[24] At the same time, female lead Jean Butler was unable to perform due to an injury. As a result, Dunne paired up with Eileen Martin for the opening night.[25][26] The initial six weeks at The Apollo was extended twice.[20] During this extended period, Riverdance returned to the Royal Variety Performance at Dominion Theatre.[27]
1996–1998
Riverdance travelled to the United States for the first time in March 1996.[28] On 13 March, the show opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the first of eight sold-out performances over five days. Costing about $2 million to bring the show from Ireland, Riverdance broke even in its first New York outing.[29]
Upon returning from New York, Riverdance went on to have another notable extended run at The Apollo between May 1996 and January 1997.[30][31] By late 1996, Riverdance had created separate companies in order to tour multiple cities at the same time. The Lee company began a U.S. tour in October 1996.[29][30][31] Riverdance toured Australia for the first time in 1997.[32][33]
In 1997, Bill Whelan received a Best Musical Show Album Grammy Award for his recording of 'Riverdance'.[34]
A number of notable cast departures occurred around this time, with Anúna leaving in September 1996;[35] Butler leaving in January 1997;[25][36] and Dunne leaving in June 1998.[37]
In 2020, Riverdance's 25th Anniversary show began touring.[32] As of 2023, Riverdance has played more than 15,000 performances across 49 countries and six continents. The show has been seen live by more than 30 million people.[32]
