The performance was transmitted to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide[5][6] and earned a standing ovation from the packed theatre of 4,000 people. Costing about $2 million to bring the show from Ireland, Riverdance broke even in its first New York outing. The composer of Riverdance has recalled the “terrifying” moment the Irish dance spectacle made its debut at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. [29], On 3 October, Riverdance opened for another six-week sell-out run at The Apollo. ... Eurovision Song Contest 2014: Eurovision Dance. During the second half of 1995, Riverdance performed a four-week season at The Apollo at Hammersmith before returning to the Point Theatre Dublin for another six-week sellout season before again returning to The Apollo at Hammersmith for another six-week season which again was a sell out, despite a casting change when Colin Dunne replaced Flatley in the male lead role 21 hours before the show opened. Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, https://eurosong-contest.fandom.com/wiki/Riverdance?oldid=39906, Composer Bill Whelan has two prior ties to Eurovision. As almost everyone knows, Riverdance was conceived as the interval act for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. 16:00. Riverdance was first performed during the seven-minute interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 30 April 1994. [23], On 17 July 1995, Riverdance performed at London's Royal College of Music in the presence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Margaret. It also spawned two documentary specials: Riverdance: A Journey, about the history and evolution of the show, and Riverdancers: The Bad Boy and The Hometown Girl, following two members of the original Lagan touring company, Kerry Houston and Joel Hanna. The three original companies were named the Liffey (which toured Europe), the Lee (the eastern US, Canada and Australia) and the Lagan (western Canada, western and southern US). Twenty-six years ago, an Irish … In 1994, the Eurovision Song Contest introduced a global Irish dance phenomenon, Riverdance, starring Michael Flatley and Jean Butler to the world. [14][15] It is currently 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". Share this: Twitter; Facebook; Like this: Like Loading... Related. Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. 1 the following week, and holding the No. They decided to produce and direct a stage show, expanding the Eurovision piece and Bill Whelan's composition. In 1998, a performance from the second New York run was aired on Canadian channel CBC. [37][38] Colin Dunne briefly returned to Riverdance in July 2002 to perform his original choreographed piece "Trading Taps" at New York City's One World Jam at Radio City Music Hall. Aug 18, 2017 - Riverdance, the show that launched Irish dancing into the mainstream, debuted on April 30, 1994 during the Eurovision contest. With over 300 million people tuning in, the seven-minute routine changed the face of Irish dance forever. [34] After 23 performances at Radio City between 2 October and 20 October, the Lee company moved on to Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston,[32] as well as Detroit and Minneapolis. Ben Kelly looks back at six minutes that reinvented Ireland’s traditional dance and its image on the world stage It all started in Dublin in 1995, remarkably as a brilliantly conceived spin-off from a seven-minute intermission piece in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The stars of show, Michael Flatley and Jean Butler, became overnight sensations. Playing next. The composer of Riverdance has recalled the “terrifying” moment the Irish dance spectacle made its debut at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Permalink. Touch Our walls down the most spectacular performance who have ever seen. Irish dance champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley were recruited to choreograph and showcase Ireland's talents to the world and put on a show as the Ireland's interval act at Eurovision 1994. Jul 19, 2020 - Riverdance, the show that launched Irish dancing into the mainstream, debuted on April 30, 1994 during the Eurovision contest. By overwhelming public demand, the run was extended twice, making a box office record of 151 sold-out shows at the venue. [21], On 8 May 1995, Riverdance performed at the Royal Gala 50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations at the special invitation of Prince Charles. As almost everyone knows, Riverdance was conceived as the interval act for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. [2] 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. In November 1994 tickets were sold in Dublin for the first full-length performance of Riverdance, which opened at the Point Theatre on 9 February 1995. Michael Flatley. Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches. Bill Whelan’s music was the soundtrack to the fancy footwork of Michael Flatley and Jean Butler in an interval act that would change the … From the haunting vocals of anúna, the graceful elegance of Jean Butler, the explosive arrival of Michael Flatley and culminating in a long line of Irish dancers beating the stage in perfect heart-stopping harmony - a whole new genre of entertainment was born and 20 years and 25 million audience members later - Riverdance still astonishes globally. Irish dance sensation Riverdance debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994. Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. [16], A video benefiting war-torn Rwanda raised $500,000 for the cause and sold 100,000 copies in a week. The original Dublin show first aired on PBS in the United States in 1997 and was frequently re-aired during local stations' pledge drives due to massive popular demand. [34], On 2 October 1996, Riverdance kicked off its US tour at Radio City Music Hall, christening their new US company the Lee (after Cork's main river), while the company continuing to perform in the UK was dubbed the Liffey (after Dublin's main river). [39][40] In June 2003, Breandán de Gallaí and Joanne Doyle featured as the lead dancers at the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics in Dublin. This seven minute routine was to change the face of Irish dance forever. Riverdance the seven minute interval act is a hit at the Eurovision Song Contest. Introduced as a “full-bodied orchestral dance … Post navigation. [1], Riverdance is rooted in a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance. Report. This first performance featured Irish Danci… When unknown group Riverdance exploded onto the world stage at 1994's Eurovision. Feb 20, 2013 - The fantastic debut of Riverdance, forming the interval act at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, Ireland. The Riverdance single topped the Irish charts immediately after the contest (holding off the 1994 Eurovision winning song Rock 'n' Roll Kids) and stayed there for 18 straight weeks. As one report put it, lead dancers Michael Flatley and Jean Butler "transformed the previously chaste and reserved traditional dance form into something else entirely",[11] and after witnessing the initial enthusiasm for the performance in Ireland, husband and wife production team Moya Doherty and John McColgan decided to invest over $1 million into producing a full-length show. In 1994, Paul Harrington and Paul McGettigan won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with 'Rock and Roll Kids'. Riverdance, a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish music and dance and featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley and a score composed by Limerick native Bill Whelan, is performed for the first time on April 30, 1994, as an interval performance act during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest at the Point Theatre in Dublin. [27], In March 2000, the show moved to Broadway's Gershwin Theatre and featured lead dancers Pat Roddy and Eileen Martin of the Shannon company, and singers Brian Kennedy and Tsidii Le Loka. Twenty-six years ago, an Irish dance performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin changed the world of traditional Irish entertainment and sent chills up spines around the world. The premiere took place on February 9, 1995, and since then, the show has visited 450 venues around the world and has been watched by over 25 million people! Riverdance also performed at Royal College of Music, London in the presence of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth II; and Princess Margaret on 17 July 1995. This is the amazing Riverdance performing as the Interval Act at Eurovision 1994, featuring the phenomenal Michael Flatley and Jean Butler and featuring the superb vocal talents of Anúna. This first performance featured Irish Dancing Champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Celtic choral group Anúna with a score written by Bill Whelan. The Eurovision Song Contest is held at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Follow. 25 years ago Riverdance burst onto the world stage as part of the Eurovision Song Contest. Riverdance was first performed during the 7-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 at the Point Theatre, Dublin on 30 April 1994. 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. Later that year, the BBC, the broadcaster for the United Kingdom, commissioned a repeat performance of the act for the 1994 Royal Variety Show, when it was introduced on stage by Sir Terry Wogan. Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. Amazing facts about the Irish dance phenomenon "Riverdance" Costumes, ... It’s now 21 years since “Riverdance” debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, in 1994. On this day: Riverdance debuts at 1994 Eurovision contest In 1994, the Eurovision Song Contest introduced a global Irish dance phenomenon, Riverdance, starring Michael Flatley … Later that year, the BBC, the broadcaster for the United Kingdom, commissioned a repeat performance of the act for the 1994 Royal Variety Show, when it was introduced on stage by Sir Terry Wogan. [32], After returning to Ireland and incurring successful runs in Belfast and Cork,[33] Riverdance made their way back to The Apollo in May 1996 for a three and a half month run; the show saw advance box office sales in excess of GB£5m. 'Dance does not often get so good' (The Guardian) [19] The act, which took place on 28 November at Dominion Theatre, was introduced on stage by Sir Terry Wogan. [27] To make matters worse for the producers, Jean Butler turned up days before opening night with her leg in a cast and on crutches, and was unable to perform. List of dancers involved in the 1994 interval, Overall Records of the Eurovision Song Contest. This attracted a television audience of 20 million. Riverdance performing as the Interval Act at Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring the phenomenal Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. Reel Around The Sun – Riverdance Live from Beijing. Riverdance began its journey as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, produced for television by Moya Doherty.This electrifying and innovative seven minute dance piece was then developed into a full-length stage show by Producer Moya … Current productions are geared towards smaller theatres, whereas past productions have been performed in large theatres and arenas. [23] Later that month, Riverdance returned, by popular demand, to the Point Theatre for a six-week sell-out run. 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