1995
Riverdance 30 - The New Generation
Music by Bill Whelan
A touring celebration of Irish dance and music, marking thirty years of Riverdance, with Bill Whelan's score.
The story
Riverdance started as a short dance interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, performed in Dublin, and grew into a full stage show in 1995. It tells no single plot story. Instead, it moves through scenes that celebrate Irish culture and its connections to other dance traditions, with rows of dancers moving in lockstep, stepping fast on hard shoes.
Bill Whelan composed the score, which blends traditional Irish instruments with modern orchestration. This anniversary production, called The New Generation, is a refreshed version aimed at a new audience and is touring the United States this season.
What to look for
Look for the famous line of dancers with arms still and feet flashing, the fiddle and uilleann pipes, and the scenes in which Irish dance meets American tap and Spanish flamenco. Music you may know includes the Riverdance theme and Reel Around the Sun. It suits families, dance fans and anyone who enjoys live traditional music; it needs no story knowledge.
Seeing it for the first time?
- Usually about two hours with an intermission.
- Suitable for all ages.
- No spoken story; it is dance and music.
- Famous music includes the Riverdance theme and Reel Around the Sun.
- Seats near the stage let you hear the footwork best.
Written by PlayhouseFinder, reviewed October 2026.