The Riverdance 30th Anniversary show directed by John McColgan and composed by Bill Whelan is a fusion of diversity, blending similar dance traditions involving rapid foot work.
Riverdance is a theatrical dance show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. 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 2025, the show continues to tour the world.
This 3Oth anniversary features Fergus Kirkpatrick and Olivia Nachtigal who are among the leads in this energetic dance troupe. Percussionist Mark Alfred, fiddler Haley Richardson, saxophonist Emma McPhilemy, and Cathal Croke on Uilleann Pipes with Michael O’Gorman’s riveting sound design delivers a mix of modern and traditional Irish works through Ireland and blending traditions from around the world.
These years’ 30th anniversary rendition of River Dance features a stunning art form of Flamenco dance blending with the Irish jig, done by award-winning Spanish dancer Rocio Dusmet, relied on the trope of “fiery” Latin culture by using flames as a visual effect and costume motif. Also featured this is year is blending tap dancing into the rhythm of the of the traditional Irish foot dance featured tap dancers Kenji Igus and Dharmesh Patel who represented the city of Brooklyn and had a West Side Story-esque dance contest with the Irish dancers.
Igus and Patel had immense skill in the classical and modern styles: Igus’s feet were a blur as he showed off their power and speed to the Irish dancers, and Patel never lost energy as he added flips and jumps to the tapping. Both men earned raucous applause from the audience, but their presence felt more like a showcase than a “fusion,” even when the scene ended with both cultures hugging. The acts have been revised very little in three decades. Meanwhile, the international social climate has changed drastically, so the narrative was less compelling than the culture and artistry.