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]
History
1994
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]
The song "Riverdance", featuring Anúna and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, was released as a single[14][15] and subsequently topped the Irish Singles Chart for a record-setting 18 weeks.[16][17] As of 2010, it was still the second highest-selling single of all time in Ireland, behind only Elton John's 1997 double A-side "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight".[18]
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]
Early 2000s
In 2000, Riverdance performed on Broadway in New York at the Gershwin Theatre.[38][39] In 2003, Riverdance featured at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics in Dublin[40] and toured China for the first time.[41]
Legacy
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]
^ a b"Ceolas Profile: Planxty". Ceolas.org. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^Walsh, Ciarán (30 November 2022). "How roots of Riverdance can be found in Kerry". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
^Ó Cinnéide, Barra (2002). Riverdance: The Phenomenon. Ireland: Blackhall Publishing. ISBN 1-901657-90-6.
^O'Toole, Leagues (2006). The Humours of Planxty. Ireland: Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 296–299. ISBN 0-340-83796-9.
^"Riverdance Unveiled at Eurovision in Dublin 1994". RTE.ie. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a bBortoli, Natalie (30 June 1997). "THE MARKETING 100: 'RIVERDANCE': MOYA DOHERTY". AdAge.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a b"MR riverdance steps up a gear". Independent.ie. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^"Original Riverdancer tells all, 30 years on from Eurovision". RTE News. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
^Davies, Luke (15 November 2014). "10 of the most memorable interval acts". JustAnotherLight.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^Granger, Anthony (22 March 2015). "Eurovision's Greatest Hits: Riverdance To Perform". Eurovoix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^Dempsey, James (21 May 2015). "From worst to Riverdance: A comprehensive ranking of Ireland's Eurovision interval acts". NewsTalk.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^Warren, Jane (23 August 2014). "What became of the Riverdance Queen? Jean Butler explains why she left the limelight". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^"1994". Riverdance.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^"Riverdance the Single on Discogs". discogs.com. May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
^RTÉ Archives (30 April 1994). "Riverdance Unveiled at Eurovision in Dublin 1994". rte.ie. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
^Brinn, David (9 August 2011). "Sailing with the 'Riverdance' of life". JPost.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^Myers, Justin (19 July 2018). "The history of the Official Irish Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^"Top 20 of All Time". Irishcharts.ie. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
^ a b"1995 part 2". Riverdance.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a b c d"1995 part 3". Riverdance.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^O'Reilly, Jo (23 March 2016). "Twenty one stomping facts about the Riverdance phenomenon". IrishPost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^Hartigan, Patti (27 May 1997). "Lord of 'Lord of the Dance' gives his side of the story". BaltimoreSun.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
^"Michael Flatley's very last dance". Independent.ie. 26 June 1998. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
^Sweet, Matthew (24 November 1996). "ARTS: EXTRACTING THE MICHAEL". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
^ a bLooseleaf, Victoria (9 April 1998). "Stepping Into a Dream". LATimes.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
^Riverdance (2005). Riverdance – The Ten Years (Documentary). Tyrone Productions.
^"Trading Taps at the Royal Variety Performance 20 November 1995". Riverdance.com. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^Kisselgoff, Anna (15 March 1996). "DANCE REVIEW;Irish Steps and Their Kin". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a bMarks, Peter (21 June 1996). "On Stage, and Off". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a b"1995 to 1998 : cities performed". Riverdance.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a b"1996". Riverdance.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ a b c"Riverdance 25th anniversary show to tour Australia in 2024". TheSenior.com.au. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
^MacNaughton, Tanya (3 October 2023). "Riverdance announces 25th anniversary Australian tour starting at Perth's RAC Arena". The West Australian. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
^"Meteor Industry Award for Bill Whelan". RTÉ. 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
^"Anúna". CelticCafe.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^O'Sullivan, Kevin (26 October 1999). "Riverprancer; JEAN BUTLER LIFTS THE LID ON LIFE WITH RIVERDANCE CO-STAR MICHAEL FLATLEY". The Mirror. Retrieved 9 July 2017. But two years ago she followed in Flatley's high-kicking footsteps and suddenly quit.
^"Biography". ColinDunne.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^Dunning, Jennifer (17 March 2000). "DANCE REVIEW; With Fast Feet and Fiddles, An Irish Perennial Returns". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^"Broadway Opening Night 2000". Riverdance.com. 17 March 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
^"Riverdance at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics, Dublin 2003". YouTube.com. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
^Watts, Jonathan (14 October 2003). "Riverdance takes a great leap forward on Mao's stage". theguardian.com. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
^Molumby, Deirdre (11 May 2021). "That 'Riverdance' animated movie is going to Sky Cinema and NOW". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2021.