Riverdance

Riverdance is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance.

With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. As of 2023, the show continues to tour the world.

Background

Riverdance is rooted in a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance.

Timedance was composed, recorded and performed for the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, which was hosted by 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]

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Sati 1984 - Own work

RIVERDANCE SONGS AND NUMBERS :-:Riverdance - Wikipedia

Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, in 2019

Sheila1988 - Own work

Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, 2019

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