Read this on the Riverdance website: Video: Riverdance on Center Stage on CCTV

As a special thank you for the efforts of our Riverdance Record Breakers from overseas, we have a 3-Day Dublin Pass worth €65 to give away to every 20th overseas participant who registers. With your Dublin Pass you’ll be able to make the most of your visit in July with free entrance to over 30 top visitor attractions, transport from the airport to the city and 24 exclusive special offers in entertainment, dining and tour venues. Check it all out at www.dublinpass.ie

So come on everyone thinking of making the trip to Ireland in July, Register now for the World Record attempt to be in with a chance to win!”

Read this on the Riverdance website: Special thank you for Riverdance Record Breakers!

AUDITION

Riverdance, the international dance-show phenomenon is holding auditions for Male and Female Russian Folk Dancers for its upcoming Dublin and European tours.

Applicants should be classically trained Russian Folk dancers and will be required to demonstrate considerable strength, style and skill and be physically prepared for 8 shows a week touring for extended periods.

For more information or if you wish to submit an audition video/cv/pics please contact jerskine@riverdance.com ASAP.

Videos of our choreography:

Read this on the Riverdance website: Auditions for Russian Folk Dancers

Dubliner Niamh O’Connor holds the record for performing with Riverdance the longest; she’s been touring with the famous show since the day it premiered in the capital city in 1995. This July, Niamh will (hopefully) be part of another Riverdance record and this time, she’s inviting you along.

As part of Riverdance – The Gathering,  people – yes, that means you too – can put on their dancing shoes, line up along the banks of the River Liffey in Dublin and attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Riverdance Line, which was set in Nashville, USA, with 652 dancers.

All you have to do is learn a few simple steps and you can join Niamh, her husband Padraic Moyles – one of Riverdance’s principal male dancers – and other stars from the show in attempting to break the record on 21 July. And if you’re not up for step dancing along the quays, you’re of course welcome to cheer on the others for what is sure to be a fun and historic day.

The record attempt is just one part of an exciting week of events for Riverdance – The Gathering. There will be a free family fun day at Merrion Square on 20 July, with face-painting  bouncy castles, food and plenty of music and dance. The day includes Riverdance – The Gathering Ceílí, led by the show’s dancers and musicians. Then it concludes with a special live performance by the cream of Riverdance musicians playing to a big-screen backdrop of the show’s highlights taken from recordings of in Dublin, New York, Geneva, and Beijing over its long history.

As for Niamh, she’s particularly looking forward to the Gathering’s series of Masterclasses, some of which she will teach. “Riverdance have never done this before, so it’s an opportunity for other dancers to come and learn what we’ve learnt over the years and hopefully someday they will get to dance in Riverdance,” she says.

“So, that’s what I’m most excited about,” she adds, “but of course it’s going to be great craic at the weekend in Merrion Square. And if we break the record with the line, I haven’t been part of one of those before, so that’s another tick on my checklist as well.”

Over the last 18 years, Niamh has travelled the world with Riverdance, performing throughout the US, Canada, Europe, South America and most recently, China. “Every tour, every night, it’s a different audience,” she says of her experience with the show. “It changes like that, so it’s not the same show. Maybe physically it is, but there are so many other elements that come into it.”

Though Niamh says she loves touring and bringing Irish dancing to people around the world, she always looks forward to coming back home and has performed in Dublin many times. The events of Riverdance – The Gathering are particularly special for her and husband Padraic Moyles, who was born in Ireland but moved to America with his family as a child.

“To be part of The Gathering, and especially Riverdance having this week, it’s very close to me and Padraic,” she explains.“They emigrated when he was eight to New York. All of his family are coming home to take part in these events, as with a lot of families that we know that are coming. So, we’re very glad to be part of it – to teach people about Riverdance, to show them, and just to give them that knowledge that you might never, ever get again. I’m glad that I’m part of that.”

Riverdance – The Gathering is taking place in Dublin from 15 to 21 July.

Applications to be part of Riverdance – The Gathering Masterclass Series close on Friday 31 May Apply online for a place in this first-ever series or email masterclassgathering@riverdance.com.

If you’d like to participate in Riverdance – The Gathering World Record –  register your interest online or email recordgathering@riverdance.com.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance – The Gathering comes to Dublin this July

Riverdance performers at Brian O’Driscoll’s Testimonial

Riverdance were delighted and honoured to have been part of a testimonial dinner for rugby star Brian O’Driscoll at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 18th March.

Prince William was one of the 2,000 A-list guests from the worlds of sport, music, entertainment and business who gathered in the luxury Grosvenor Hotel for the special night in honour of Irelands greatest ever rugby player.

Other guests on the night included Michael Fassbender, Niall Horan from One Direction, Paul McGuinness, Bono and The Script singer Danny O’Donoghue. Also attending were Brian’s teammates including Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney, Cian Healy, Shane Horgan and Jamie Heaslip.

Patrick Kielty was MC and the other act performing was award-winning Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande.

Julian Erskine, Riverdance senior executive producer, said “The night was really good for us. When we were asked months ago we were delighted and honoured and thrilled.

“To be involved in anything Irish and representing a cultural icon abroad made us very proud and happy to be here

“Being a couple of feet away from Prince William, Brian, Amy and Bono on the top table made it even more special”

Riverdance performer Padraic Moyles said that “Brian stood talking to all of us and said he was so grateful. And Bono said he absolutely loved our performance”.

Rierdance Performers Deidre Dowling, Michael Maguire and Ellie Maguire at Brian O’Driscoll’s Testimonial

Riverdance leads Alana Mallon and Padraic Moyles at Brian O’Driscoll’s Testimonial

Riverdance performers Michael Maguire & Deidre Dowling with Brian O’Driscoll

Riverdancers Deidre Dowling & Ellie Maguire with One Direction’s Niall Horan

Some of the Riverdance cast with Bono!

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance performs at testimonial for rugby star Brian O’Driscoll in London

The Riverdance 20^th Anniversary Tour will visit 16 venues across the UK from September 2014.  Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by phone on 0800 656 8876 or online at www.livenation.co.uk.  With an incredible two decades of global success since the show first burst into the public’s heart at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994, this is an unmissable chance for UK audiences to reconnect with what the Irish Times rightly described as “The Original…The Best”.  The Washington Post exclaimed, “Its continued popularity proves that it was, and remains, a phenomenon of historic proportions!”

Alana Mallon and Padraic Moyles

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance team up with ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Takeaway’

This 20th Anniversary UK Tour, gives Riverdance fans old and new, the opportunity to celebrate an incredible milestone for an incredible show. Twenty years after it took its first steps, a truly phenomenal piece of theatrical entertainment is back by popular demand. Don’t miss this anniversary tour!

RIVERDANCE UK TOUR DATES 2014

SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilions
Tuesday 2 – Sunday 7 September 2014

IPSWICH Regent
Tuesday 9 – Sunday 14 Sept 2014

BOURNEMOUTH BIC
Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 Sept 2014

BIRMINGHAM NIA
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 September 2014

CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 September 2014

BRISTOL Hippodrome
Tuesday 30 Sept – Sunday 5 Oct 2014

MANCHESTER Opera House
Tuesday 7 – Sunday 12 Oct 2014

BRADFORD Alhambra
Tuesday 14 – Sunday 19 Oct 2014

BLACKPOOL Opera House
Tuesday 21 – Sunday 26 Oct 2014

LIVERPOOL Empire
Tuesday 28 Oct – Sunday 2 Nov 2014

EDINBURGH Playhouse
Tuesday 4 – Sunday 9 Nov 2014

SUNDERLAND Empire
Monday 10 – Saturday 15 Nov 2014

NOTTINGHAM Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 Nov 2014

OXFORD New Theatre
Tuesday 25 – Sunday 30 Nov 2014

SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower
Monday 1 – Saturday 6 Dec 2014

LONDON Hammersmith Apollo
Wednesday 10 – Saturday 13 Dec 2014

Read this on the Riverdance website: UK 2014 – The 20th Anniversary Tour

At the event, the Dublin City New Year festival will launch a new reward, special designed and created in Ireland by Tipperary Crystal, recognising those who have contributed to Sino-Irish relations in Culture, Innovation and Business.

As one of the longest established Irish brands in China, Riverdance will be presented with an award for their cultural contribution to relations between China and Ireland.

“ Riverdance is a brand that has catapulted Irish culture abroad and has acted as a vital Ambassador to our country capturing the hearts of many, especially the Chinese nation”
Declan Hayden, Director Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

2013 celebrates the Year of the Snake.
The internationally recognised Dublin Chinese New Year Festival (DCNYF) from 8^th to 22^nd February 2013 showcases the best of Sino Irish Culture in Ireland.
As Dublin continues to build on its twinning with Beijing, the festival presents an extensive cultural programme including the Third Chinese Film Festival at the Lighthouse Cinema,  a special Spring Festival partnership with the Council of Europe Intercultural Cities Conference – an official part of Ireland hosting of the European Presidency,  the main DCNYF Carnival on Chinese New Year’s Day, Traditional Dragon and Lion dances, a Sino-Irish Business Seminar, the DCNYF Lecture series, a Children’s Programme,  an Arts and Music Programme,  Martial Arts, Sports and much more for all ages. Tickets for the events can be booked through the website www.cny.ie  

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Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance performs at Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

First there is a visit for 9 year old Irish Dancer, Sofi-Mei Lally to Riverdance wardrobe department to be dressed in her very own specially made Riverdance costume.
Then lead dancers Maria Buffini and Jason O’Neill bring Sofi-Mei to the Gaiety Theatre Dublin to dance as part of the line up on stage with the RiverdanceTroupe.

Sofi-Mei Lally with Riverdance on OMG! Jedward’s Dream Factory

Full Show on RTE2

Read this on the Riverdance website: OMG! Jedwards Dream Factory with Riverdance.

It’s that time of year again when the memory of former Riverdancer, Dr Eithne Walls, will be marked by her friends, family and former colleagues running the 2013 Flora Womens Mini Marathon to raise money for Dublin’s Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital’s Research Foundation.  More information on the work enabled by the fund can be found at www.researchfoundation.ie.

Eithne, a former Riverdancer and a Doctor at the RVEEH, was a passenger along with her friends and colleagues Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Jane Deasy on the ill-fated Air France Flight 447 which disappeared over the Atlantic on June 1 2009.  Each June Bank Holiday since then her friends, family, and former colleagues in both Riverdance and the RVEEH have come together to run the Mini Marathon as a way of remembering Eithne.

If you’re already planning to take part in the run and perhaps looking for a cause to support, the RVEEH would be delighted if you’d like to do so on its behalf.  To receive a sponsorship card please contact Emma-Jayne Verner at the RVEEH at  Emma-Jayne.Verner@rveeh.ie

Registration to take place in the run itself opens on February 20^th – register online from the 20^th at  www.florawomensminimarathon.ie

If running the event is not for you this year, please do take a minute to sponsor the runners and to support the important work being undertaken by the Research Foundation – you can donate online at www.researchfoundation.ie where you will also find more information on Eithne, the Foundation’s work and also some pictures from last year’s run.

Here’s hoping for some sunshine and plenty of runners for the RVEEH on June 3!

Riverdancers Claire Doyle , Niamh McDarby,Nina Burke, Carla O’€™Brien

Read this on the Riverdance website: 2013 Flora Womens Mini Marathon – Remembering Dr Eithne Walls.