Riverdance hits new heights!
Grace in motion - Riverdance
When Riverdance burst onto the world stage during a seven-minute interval at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the mood was electric. Irish stepdance had never looked or sounded like this before: tight formations, thunderous rhythms, heart-pumping excitement. It was a cultural jolt. The following year, those seven minutes evolved into a full-length show, premiering at Dublin’s Point Theatre, now the 3Arena.
Thirty years on, Riverdance is still packing theatres from Toronto to Tokyo. In 2025, it celebrates this milestone anniversary with a bold new tour, playing 31 UK venues in tribute to three decades of global triumph. The final homecoming performance will take place at Belfast’s SSE Arena.
“It is both a privilege and a delight to celebrate 30 years of Riverdance and the unique journey it has taken us on,” says John McColgan, the show’s director and co-creator. “In those 30 years, it’s transformed from a spectacle into a global cultural phenomenon, continuously evolving yet remaining true to its Irish roots.”
A dance sensation
McColgan, alongside producer Moya Doherty and Grammy-winning composer Bill Whelan, helped transform a brief television interval act into a touring production that has redefined Irish performance on the world stage. The foundation of Riverdance remains deeply rooted in traditional Irish step dancing, with its rapid footwork, upright posture and rhythmic complexity. The music is grounded in Irish instruments such as the bodhrán, fiddle, and uilleann pipes, but the show’s evolution is what keeps it current. Today, audiences experience all that tradition layered with multimedia visuals and contemporary choreography.
The 30th anniversary tour, titled Riverdance 30 – The New Generation, builds on that legacy. It introduces new music, updated costumes and dynamic visual elements. The cast now includes dancers who weren’t even born when the show first took the world by storm.
Among them are Fergus and Anna Mai Fitzpatrick, a brother-and-sister duo from Ireland, who now serve as principal dancers and Dance Captains. Both trained competitively from a young age, with the dream of joining the show.
“In the back of our minds when we started dancing, the end goal was always Riverdance,” says Fergus. “However, before you get there, there is a whole competition scene... Now, though, as a principal dancer, I also feel that I need to outwork the younger guys who are coming through. They are so good.”
Anna Mai adds, “That’s the dream, I suppose, for any job, and we do wholeheartedly love what we do. That is what pushes me to be that one per cent better every day, keep the fire burning... When the audience sees the cast on stage, they see the glamorous end to the work of an entire team that has been helping each other to get to that point. We love the entire process.”
The anniversary year began with a major North American tour, with performances in 35 cities including New York, Toronto, Boston and Chicago. It’s currently finishing a 14-week residency at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre before it continues across 31 cities in the UK, from Edinburgh to Cardiff. In December, it’ll wrap things the year up with a homecoming run in Belfast.
Fierce, Powerful, Magical - Riverdance
A vision brough to life
To date, Riverdance has been performed over 16,000 times in 49 countries on six continents. It’s been seen live by over 30 million people and broadcast to more than 3.5 billion viewers globally. The newly released 30th anniversary sizzle reel offers a powerful glimpse intoof how the show’s energy and emotional pull have stood the test of time.
“We would not be performing today if it weren’t for the incredible people who were first involved in Riverdance,” says principal dancer Amy-Mae Dolan. “The visionaries who dreamt of this show, brought it to life and paved the way for us... We promise to continue to pour our hearts and souls into the show... to ensure that there is always a Riverdance.”
The final stop on the anniversary tour, Belfast, feels especially symbolic. A city with its own strong traditions of music, storytelling , and stagecraft, it’s an ideal setting for the show’s final bow. Visitors heading there for Riverdance at the SSE Arena can also explore the city’s cultural pulse, from traditional folk sessions in the Cathedral Quarter to The MAC’s contemporary dance programming or the immersive heritage spaces along the Maritime Mile.
From Belfast, it’s easy to follow the rhythm westward across the island. In Galway, the pulse of trad music spills out of pubs like Tig Cóilí and The Crane Bar. In Doolin, County Clare, bodhrán beats fill the night air. In Connemara, summer schools and weekend workshops keep sean-nós, Ireland’s oldest dance form, alive.
Experiencing musical traditions
For those seeking to deepen their connection to Irish dance and music, the island offers numerous immersive experiences. Travellers can join a step dance class in Leitrim, learn to play the bodhrán in Dingle, take the Traditional Music Trail in Belfast, or visit the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin. More than a souvenir, these experiences echo the show’s message: that dance is both inherent in Irish culture and constantly reimagined.
“There is always something new in the way the show resonates,” Anna Mai says. “I have seen the show many times, and it always hits me differently, on a certain night, one particular number might really affect you... It is the human emotion that keeps the fans coming back. They come for the feeling that they leave the show with.”
Whether it’s your first time seeing Riverdance or your 50th, the 30th anniversary is a moment to reflect on what the show has become and where it might go next.
“We’re proud to be in the roles that we have,” says Fergus. “And we want to inspire the next generation that will follow us.”
Riverdance 30 – The New Generation finishes its Gaiety Theatre run in Dublin on 7 September, 2025.
The 2025 UK tour includes 31 cities, then wrapping up in Belfast’s SSE Arena from 17–20 December. A second North American tour continues into early 2026, with shows in cities like Ft Lauderdale, Atlanta, and San Diego.
Tour info and tickets: www.riverdance.com
Smiles of Joy , Hearts of Fire