Riverdance Review: Enchanting Melodies Paired with Incredible Talent

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 25 years since Riverdance first graced the stage. In fact, in 2025, it’ll actually be the 30th anniversary! As a massive fan of Irish culture and folklore, I was drawn to Riverdance from the second I heard about it, even though I was just in fifth grade at the time. The dancing was like nothing I had ever seen before, and the music was the most beautifully haunting soundtrack my ears had ever heard.

Fast forward to 2023. Does Riverdance still hold the magic it did for me when I was 11 years old? In short, yes, it absolutely does. But the stage show does bring a number of new elements to the stage, giving fans something new to see on this 25th Anniversary Tour.

Composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded the soundtrack, and producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have entirely reimagined the ground-breaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, video, stage, and costume designs.

The Performances

The performers of Riverdance are, without question, some of the most talented dancers in the world. The amount of endurance required for these performances is so impressive, and the unique style of the dances is so captivating that you can’t help but be entranced by their movements. The show is filled with a wide variety of performances, ranging from traditional Irish dancing to more contemporary numbers.

From the precision footwork to the brilliantly choreographed numbers, each dancer proves why they have earned international acclaim as masters of their craft. Along with the dancers, the musicians provide the perfect soundtrack to each performance, creating a truly mesmerizing atmosphere that will haunt your memories long after you leave the theatre. 

Riverdance’s History

So you might be asking, why is the 25th Anniversary Tour just now making the rounds? Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the initial 25th Anniversary North American Tour was shut down in March 2020.

In 2021, Riverdance celebrated a return to the stage in the United Kingdom. There, the iconic show played to sold-out audiences in 27 cities across the country. Next, Riverdance headed to the Middle East. It had its debut at Expo 2020 Dubai with a special production that presented a multi-cultural experience, including artists from the Middle East region.

But let’s rewind for a moment. Riverdance got started as an interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. It was just a seven-minute, jaw-dropping dance performance at the time. But soon after, it was developed into a full-length stage show by producer Moya Doherty, composer Bill Whelan, and director John McColgan.

The world premiere came in early 1995, as the show debuted in Dublin and soon after hopped over to London. The tour began in New York in March 1996. There, it had eight sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall. And from there, the stage show had more than two decades of touring throughout North America.

Riverdance in Atlanta

Be sure to check out Riverdance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta! Tickets are still available for tonight’s 8pm performance and two performances tomorrow, one at 1pm and then at 6:30pm. Tickets will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308). You can also acquire tickets by going to the Fox Theatre’s website or by calling (855)-285-8499. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling the Fox Theatre at (855)-285-8499.