Looking Back: Riverdance 30

The cultural phenomenon that is Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre for the summer, marking an important 30 year milestone.

See available tickets

On 30 April 1994, at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland became the only country to win the Eurovision Song Contest three times in a row, for an also recording breaking sixth time. The night has gone on to be famous for another cultural milestone however, the first performance of Riverdance.

Following Eurovision, a full length stage production was developed, “Riverdance: The Show” opened in The Point Theatre on 9 February 1995 for a five-week run and sold out within three days of going on sale.

Since that night Riverdance has been seen by over 30 million people. The show has been performed over 16,000 times in 51 countries, on all continents except Antarctica, and featured 1,500 Irish dancers from 29 countries. There have been 72 marriages within the Riverdance “Family” and 134 babies, many of whom have gone on to perform in the show.

To mark the show’s 30th Anniversary, former dancers from across the world attended a special performance of the show on 4 June in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin ahead of their summer run. We spoke with dancers Susan Sheridan (nee Ginnity) and Pat Roddy, as well as original director and founder John McColgan, to discuss their experiences with the global phenomenon.

How did Riverdance first come about?

John: It first came about when my wife, Moya Doherty, was producing the Eurovision Song Contest. She was asked by Liam Miller to do, as they did in those days, an interval act. She had seen a show that I did that had Michael Flatley and Jean Butler in it, and we were talking about doing a documentary on the relationship between Irish dance, or the influence of Irish dance on tap and other dance. So she had that in her head, and she was asked to produce the Eurovision. She took it from there. And when she went to RTÉ and they asked her what she was doing for the interval, she said, Irish dancing. they said, “You’ve got to be serious.” She said, “Irish dance like you haven’t seen it before.” She got Bill Whelan for the music. Mavis Ascott did the choreographer originally and Michael Flatley and Jean, and that’s where it began.

Riverdance Leads Jean Butler and Michael Flatley and Troupe Dublin 1995

How did you get involved in Riverdance?

Susan: For me, I was with the O’Shea Dancing School, and my story is a little bit out there as you had to be 16 to audition, and I was only 15. They didn’t have enough dancers to fill the stage. So Riverdance asked my dance teacher, have they any 15 year olds that would pass as a 16 year old? So I actually turned 16 three days before I performed the Eurovision. I started the show with the Eurovision, and we danced that spectacular night, and then I went on to tour for 10 years.

Pat: I auditioned, just after Eurovision, they held auditions with Michael [Flatley] down in Diggs Lane. So I auditioned, was successful, and, yeah, I was repeating my Leaving Cert at the time. I had intended to take some time out a short, you know, month or two, but it turned into seven and a half years.

Riverdance Original Cast Dublin February 1995

What was the night of Eurovision like? Did you know you were involved in something that would be so special?

Susan: Throughout the rehearsals, we didn’t really know what to expect, and then on the night, well, actually, it was in the dress rehearsal, we knew we had hit something magic. It was so special. It wasn’t just a dance, it was a feeling that we all had, that it was just incredible, and that silence before the crowd’s reaction when we finished, and then the standing ovation was just magical.

John: Yes, I did. I was in the audience. I’d been at rehearsals, and I knew even at rehearsals there was magic in the air. We were sitting in the audience, and when Riverdance finished, you can see that on video, there was silence for about two seconds, and then everybody has one jump to their feet, a big roar of approval.

Former Riverdance Leads Breandán de Gallaí, Susan Ginnity and Pat Roddy pictured with Director John McColgan

How has Riverdance changed your life?

Susan: Riverdance, for me, it was kind of the start of everything. It guided me so much throughout life. It taught me about resilience, dedication, teamwork, just in everything. And it’s not just for the show I brought that to. I brought everything I learned further and throughout, you know, my next journeys that I took through at any different jobs. You know, Riverdance is very special, and so much dedication goes into it, and there’s so much loyalty as well. And I definitely brought that with me throughout.

Pat: Well, I mean, Riverdance transformed the world of Irish dancing, and the world of Irish entertainment to a degree as well, and it put Ireland kind of in the spotlight, on the big stage. But for me, it’s just the memories, the friendships, the bonds that we’ve had. I grew up in Irish dancing. My parents were both dance teachers but to come on this part of the journey was was extremely special.

John: It’s changed my life a lot, I suppose. And for the better. It for it was a lot of stress for many years, as you can imagine, but it I’m taking a step back now, and a guy called Padraic Moyles runs it, and he was a dancer in the show for 18 years, and he’s now the producer director, working with me.

Pat, your son is involved in Riverdance now, what’s that like for you knowing he’s following in your footsteps?

Pat: Yeah, look, it’s great. I mean, he’s an accomplished competitive dancer. He’s a world champion, but to see him on the Riverdance stage tonight will be extremely special, emotional, I’m sure, for myself and my wife, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s great for him.

Riverdance Leads Pat Roddy, Eileen Martin and Troupe 1999

Do you have any favorite memories from your time on the show?

Susan: Well, I met my husband on the show, and we’re married now with two beautiful babies. So that’s a huge point for me. I think us going to New York for the first time and getting that bus journey down and seeing, like we’d never really been to the states, so seeing skyscrapers and seeing the skyline and then going straight to Radio City was pretty spectacular.

John: Yes, I have so many memories. The opening in Radio City Musical Hall, the run in London, China, Japan. They’re all magical. And still, I stand down the back of the theatre in different countries over 30 years, and I still get goosebumps when I see them come in on stage, when I hear the opening music.

Pat: Just some of the some of the theatres that we we performed in, and again, some of the countries that we visited just wouldn’t have happened without the show.