Riverdance is a theatrical show featuring traditional Irish music and dance that has become one of the most successful dance productions in the world, thanks in large part to the charisma and choreography that Michael Flatley brought to the production during his first year.
What is now known as Riverdance originated as a gap number during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest and evolved into a stage show featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler and Flatley. The first performance on February 9, 1995 was a huge success and since then the show has visited 450 venues worldwide and been seen by over 25 million people!
However, Flatley’s tenure with the show was short-lived after creative differences with producers led to a hiatus just 9 p.m. before the show opened for a second broadcast in London on October 3, 1995. .
This is why the performance in the video below is known as “The Final Performance” of Riverdance with Flatley.