Maria Buffini

Lead Dancer

Maria began dancing at the age of four with the O’Shea School in Dublin, Ireland. She danced competitively and toured extensively with the School, performing from a young age at festivals in Ireland, Europe and America. This included five summer seasons at Busch Gardens, Virginia while she was studying for her first class honours degree in Science from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

She began performing with Riverdance in 2004 and since then, has danced with the company in Ireland, Europe, America, Japan and Taiwan. She is delighted to be dancing the lead with Riverdance.

Brendan Dorris

Shóna Cobbe

Irish Dance Troupe

Shóna was born in Dublin and began Irish dancing at the age of five with Áine and Seamus O’Shea. She danced competitively and travelled extensively performing with the school.

Shóna began her professional career at sixteen performing in shows Irish Thunder and as lead dancer in Emerald Beat -Busch Gardens, Williamsburg USA.

Since joining Riverdance in 2009 Shóna has performed at events throughout the world including Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She feels privileged to be part of Riverdance.

Shaun Kelly

Irish Dance Troupe

Shaun is from County Donegal in Ireland. He began dancing at the age of fourteen and is a member of the McNelis/Cunningham School of Irish Dancing in Donegal. Over the years Shaun has competed at Ulster, All Ireland and World Championships.

He has toured with Ragus in Europe and completed two seasons at Busch Gardens, Virginia dancing in Celtic Fyre.

He is an Accounting student in Galway and is currently taking time out to pursue his dancing career. He was delighted to  make his debut with Riverdance in Australia.

Yvonne McNeilis

Irish Dance Troupe

Yvonne began dancing at the age of 5 and danced competitively for over 12 years, consistently ranking in the Top 2 of every major dancing competition, including the World Irish Dancing Championships. She then went on to study Physiotherapy at University College Dublin but also danced with the Riverdance Flying Squad during this time, performing regularly at corporate and promotional events throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Since completing her training in 2005, Yvonne has continued to successfully balance her challenging work as a physiotherapist in Ireland and performer with Riverdance all over the world.

Having also recently qualified to teach Irish Dance, Yvonne aims to eventually join the dancing school established by her sisters at home in Co Donegal, The McNelis-Cunningham School of Dancing.

Cal Moran

Aisling McVeigh

Irish Dance Troupe

Aisling began dancing at the age of five with the Grainne McCormack School of Irish Dancing. She danced competitively, placing in the top three in the All Ireland and Leinster Championships.

She started dancing professionally with Celtic Rhythm while studying Commerce International & German at UCD. Graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in 2006, she began touring full-time with various productions including Gaelforce Dance and Irish Nights.

Since joining Riverdance, Aisling has toured North America, Korea, China Australia and New Zealand with the highlight being performing in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for family & friends in her hometown.

Aisling has recently completed the TCRG Irish Dance teacher exams and started her own dance school.

Patrick O’Mahony

Irish Dance Troupe

Patrick began his dance training at the tender age of two with Rinceoiri Na Riochta under the direction of Jimmy Smith and Honor O’Conor. At seven, Patrick won his first Munster title in 1993 and continued claiming the title every year until 2004. Patrick was awarded All Ireland Champion in 1995. Patrick continued to compete until 2004 in the All Ireland’s, the British National’s, the American National’s, the Great Britain’s, and the World’s, always placing in the top 4. Patrick went on to dance and travel all over the world with shows such as Ragus, To Dance on the Moon, Spirit of Ireland, Dance of Desire, Playboy of the Western World, Irish Thunder and Emerald Beat in Busch Gardens, Virginia and Florida, Skydance, Noctu, Irish Celtic, Gaelforce Dance and Dance Masters. Patrick is extremely excited and privileged to be a part of the overly talented cast of Riverdance, and would like to thank his parents and family for their support throughout his dance carrier.

Louise O’Sullivan

Irish Dance Troupe

Louise from Dublin, began dancing at the age of 4 for the Elaine Kavanagh School of Dance. She has won many medals in competitions worldwide and also learned tap, ballet, modern and Latin American dance. After 17 years of competition Louise joined Gaelforce Dance as understudy and then principal dancer. Louise danced with Dance of Desire, Magic of the Dance, Dance Masters and Irish Celtic touring the world for 4 years.
Louise has a degree in fitness and personal training and works with Trinity College gymnasium in Dublin when she is not on tour.
Louise is delighted to achieve her dream to perform with Riverdance and would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support through out her dancing career.

Kincaid Stringer

Irish Dance Troupe

Born in Dallas, Texas, Kincaid began dancing when he was 7 years and eventually moved to Galway to dance with The Celine Hession School in Salthill. Throughout his competitive career he won 10 regional titles as well as placing in the top three in The All Irelands and the top five in The World Championships.

In the fall of 2010 Kincaid graduated from University with a First Class Honours in English Literature along with a qualification in Business Management.

Kincaid is both delighted and privileged to finally be a part of the Riverdance cast and is looking forward to seeing the world and experiencing life on tour.

Brioni Gallagher

Soloist

Originally from County Cavan, Brioni has undertaken a broad musical education, including a BAMus Honours Degree from University College Cork in 2007 and Honours in Graduate Diploma in Music Education from University of Limerick in 2008, as well as having achieved certificates in both voice, drama and Irish harp with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Leinster School of Music. During her time in UCC, Brioni was a vocal student of Robert Beare. She has performed as a soloist and chorister with groups such as the UCC Baroque Ensemble, Cantus Choralis, College of Clerks in Youghal, Madrigal 75 and the cult chamber choir Anuna. She also studied Sean Nos singing with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh of the Irish Traditional group Danu.

Michael E. Wood

Freedom Soloist & Tapper 26th June to 5th August

Michael Wood was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, but raised in Dallas, Texas. From before he could remember Michael has had a passion for the performing arts. Growing up he found himself dancing to Michael Jackson and singing to whatever was on the radio. In school he was always a part of the choir, but was never afforded the opportunity for classical dance training. At the age of 18 Michael started his technical dance training at Oklahoma City University, where he studied Ballet, Jazz, and first put on his tap shoes. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Dance Performance, Michael spent a couple years as a singer/dancer on Norwegian Cruise Lines before finally making his way to New York City.
Michael is thankful for all the support and encouragement from his friends and family.

So Danca supplies shoes for the Riverdance Tappers

Dewitt Fleming Jr

Tapper and Freedom Soloist
7th August to 8th September

DeWitt Fleming Jr. is an acclaimed tap dancer, and has performed throughout the United States and abroad. DeWitt has danced as a soloist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Marvin Hamlisch, Christian McBride, and Wycliffe Gordon to name a few.
The New York Times says he is, “a non stop source of rhythmic variety and surprise….sparks seem to fly from those shoes!”
Tours: Riverdance (Lead Tapper), Cirque Du Soliel’s Banana Shpeel(Ensemble, featured tapper). Some Off-Braodway stage credits include: Cotton Club Parade(Lead/Nicholas Brother), Dance Bojangles Dance(Bojangles), Highlights in Jazz, Tribute to Tap Legends. Regional: Alliance Theater’s Sophisticated Ladies(Lead). He is the host, and also co-creator of the new Off-Broadway hit Broadway Underground.

So Danca  supplies shoes for the Riverdance Tappers

Declan Masterson

Uilleann Pipes , Low Whistle , Tin Whistle, Kaval & Bouzouki / Musical Director

Multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer, Declan is in great demand, both as performer and recording artist. He has recorded and performed live with artists including Bono, Bryan Adams, John Denver, Van Morrison, Townes Van Zandt, Clannad, Planxty and Christy Moore, Elmer Bernstein and some of the world’s top orchestras. A former member of Moving Hearts and Patrick Street, his playing has been featured on the film soundtracks of In the Name of the Father, The Secret of Roan Inish and Some Mother’s Son among others.

Declan has performed Bill Whelan’s Seville Suite many times including in La Corunna with The Galecian Symphony Orchestra, and most recently in The Waterfront, Belfast with The Ulster Orchestra. He has five solo albums to his credit and has toured the world with Riverdance since 1996.

Patrick Mangan

Aoife Ní Bhriain

Fiddle 24th July to 5 August and 28th August to 2nd September

Aoife began learning the violin at the age of two with Hungarian born teacher, Maria Kelemen. At the tender age of nine, Aoife played her first solo with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in the popular ‘Music in the Classroom’ series. By the age of fifteen she had won all under 18 repertoire and concerto competitions in the Royal Irish Academy of Music while also being a prizewinner in the Siemens Feis Cheoil. In 2006, Aoife studied with the renowned violinist Constantin Serban in the “Conservatoire de la Région” in France. Here, Aoife completed her Diplôme d’études musicales, receiving the Prix D’Or.  In November 2008 Aoife toured Asia with the chamber orchestra of the RIAM. On the same tour she performed Bill Whelan’s suite for two violins, Inishlacken. She went on to perform in Carnegie Hall the RIAM Symphony Orchestra. Traditional music continues to play an important part of Aoife’s musical life, winning five All-Ireland titles on the fiddle.

Ken Edge

Saxophone

Kenneth Edge began his career in music by winning RTE’s ‘Young musician of the future’ competition in 1983.

Since then, Ken has performed with some of the greatest musicians and orchestras in the world. He has attracted many composers to write new works for him to perform,
such as Shaun Davey, Micheal Ó Suilleabháin and John Buckley. Aside from his performing career, Ken has been appointed artist in residence to the University of Limerick and is active as a composer and conductor.