2013

16th March
Riverdance announce their 20th Anniversary UK tour in fine style with a very special performance on ITV’s hit prime time show ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Takeaway’

20th March
Riverdance – The Gathering is launched. Events from 15th to 21st July include a World Record attempt, a Masterclass Series, Riverdance – The Gathering Ceílí & Special Performances at the Gaiety Theatre.

15th April
Our Riverdance Flying Squad spent 5 days in Shanghai where they performed a 19 minute Distant Thunder as part of a special customer day for the BMW Group.

27th June
Riverdance opens for the 10th consecutive summer run at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin. There are 78 performances over the 10 weeks to 1st September.

2013

8th February
Riverdance performs at the Opening Ceremony of the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival which takes place in Dublin’s Mansion House. As one of the longest established Irish brands in China, Riverdance is presented with an award for their cultural contribution to relations between China and Ireland.

9th February
Riverdance celebrates the 18th anniversary of the premier performance at the Point Theatre, Dublin in 1995.

15th February
After 51 performances, 25 cities and over 10,000km, the curtain goes down on The Grand Theatre Tour in China with the final performance in Shanghai. This ends Riverdance’s most extensive and successful tour of China to date.

March
Work begins on a new look Riverdance, incorporating new technologies in the areas for lighting and projection.

2012

28 June – 8 September
Riverdance opens for the 9th consecutive summer run at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. There are 88 performances over the 11 weeks to 8 September.

24 July
Riverdance begins a two week summer season at the Kursaal Ostend, Belgium’s premier holiday resort.

14 August
The first ever Riverdance performance in South America takes place in Via Funchal, São Paulo, Brazil.  This marks the 6^th continent on which Riverdance has performed during  its 17^th  year history.

22 August
The South American Tour travels to Buenos Aires and Cordoba, Argentina for a further 16 shows. The South American audiences give Riverdance a tremendous welcome throughout the tour.

7th December
The Grand Theatre Tour of China commences, playing 25 cities across China over a 10 week schedule to 15th February 2013.

2012

4 June
The show opens in Montreal, Quebec on its final stage of the Canadian tour. The last Canadian sell out show takes place in Sydney, NS on June 10.

17 June
Riverdance’s final performances in North America take place on Friday, June 15 through Sunday, June 17 at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA near Washington. Since June 1997, Riverdance has returned to WolfTrap each year, and performed to sell-out crowds. More than half a million people will have seen Riverdance at Wolf Trap.

18 June
Riverdance joins a host of international artists to perform at the Electric Burma tribute concert in honour of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese opposition leader, during her historic visit to Dublin. To mark this momentous occasion, Riverdance principal dancer Siobhan Mason performs Thunderstorm with the male dance troupe, a first female performance of this number.

2012

23 February
Riverdance performs for Vice President of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping, during his first state visit to Ireland. Mr Xi Jinping made a special request to see Riverdance (which is hugely popular in his homeland), during his historic visit.
Riverdance announces a 10 week tour of China commencing December 2012. The show has been staged more than 150 times in China and has been seen by an audience of 300,000

17 March 
Riverdance celebrates St Patrick’s Day with final sell out shows in the Oriental Theatre Chicago.

16 May
The Riverdance Farewell Tour Australia takes place with performances in Adelaide, Hobart and Newcastle.

29 May 
For the first time in nine years, Riverdance returns to tour New Zealand, performing in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

2012

1 January
The Riverdance troupe celebrates the New Year by performing at the first outdoor New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin’s city centre.

February
After 16 years of continuous touring for Riverdance in North America, much of the time with two touring shows, producer Moya Doherty announces that the final Riverdance North American performance will take place in Wolf Trap Virginia on 17^th June 2012.
Since its North American debut in March 1996 in Radio City New York, Riverdance has performed almost 6000 shows to an audience of over 12 million people in North America. The show has toured extensively in all of 52 U.S. States from Alaska to Hawaii, and in 9 Canadian Provinces as well as undertaking 3 tours to Mexico.

7 February
The final leg of the Riverdance Farewell tour begins in Dallas Texas. Riverdance performs in 82 North American Cities from February to June 2012.

2011

June – August
Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for the eight consecutive summer season for a 10 week run.

Sep 27 – Oct 9
Due to the enormous popularity and unprecedented response by the South African public to Riverdance which led to a complete sell-out of the show’s January 2011 season, the show returned to Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg for two weeks.

November 15
Riverdance lead dancers Padraic Moyles and Alana Mallon and  Riverdance dance troupe members – Jason O’Neill, James Greenan, Lauren Smyth, Billy Kanaly, Maeve Croke,  Fiona McCabe, Maeve Fearon and Andy O’Reilly appear on the CBS TV series The Price is Right in Los Angeles.

December
Riverdance visits Hawaii for the first time. The show played from December 7th – 11th at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu.

2011

19 February
Riverdance on Ice is broadcast on NBC

March – April
For the first time in eight years Riverdance returns to Australia for a national tour, visiting Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

May
Riverdance performs in Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong from 3rd to 15th May

19 May
Riverdance performs at a Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Ireland. The Gala concert at the Convention Centre Dublin is produced by Riverdance Director John McColgan and is attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin, and 2,000 invited guests

2011

January 
Riverdance Shannon Company commences their North American tour that will perform 160 shows in 75 venues over 22 weeks

25th January
Riverdance performs on African soil for the first time with the first ever tour of South Africa opening in Johannesburg on 25 January until 20 February and then Cape Town from 23 to 27 February. Riverdance has now performed on 5 continents

25th January
Riverdance breaks box office records for pre-bookings at the Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg (see pic)

9 February
Riverdance celebrates the 16th anniversary of the first ever show at the Point Theatre, Dublin in 1995.

2010

November
The new revamped www.riverdance.com is launched with a new ticketing and fan review systems and incorporating all aspects of Social Media Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, YouTube and Flick’r to enhance the communication with Riverdance fans worldwide.
25th November Riverdance Live from Beijing is launched on PBS USA by Bill Whelan, Moya Doherty and John McColgan

December
Riverdance performs 16 shows over 2 weeks in the New Marina Bay Sands Resort, Singapore.

7th December
Riverdance performs on the highest stage in the world, at MBS SkyPark Singapore, two hundred metres above ground. The team is applying to have this feat recognized by Guinness World Records as a performance on the highest stage in the world (see pic).

Riverdance premiers in Northeast China, beginning a 4 week, 8 venue tour.

2010

21st July
Appearing for the first time in the Middle East, Riverdance preformed for 5 nights at the Byblos International Festival in Jbeil-Byblos, Lebanon

2nd September
Riverdance performs for the first time at the Millennium Forum, Derry, Northern Ireland

16th October
Riverdance on Ice – A brand-new show combining the music, rhythm and artistry of Riverdance with the grace and athleticism of skating is performed live in Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts USA and is recorded for TV broadcast (see pic).

November
The new recording Riverdance Live from Beijing is released for sale on DVD and BluRay in Ireland, UK, Europe, USA and Canada.

2010

17th March
The book ‘Riverdance – The Irish Music and Dance Phenomenon’ goes on sale at the show in celebration of 15 years of Riverdance. The story of Riverdance is documented through stunning photographs captured at the live shows (see pic).

28 April
Riverdance returns to a sell out performances at the Apollo Theatre, Hammersmith, London. This is the 8th time Riverdance sold out at the Apollo Theatre – twice in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2009 and 2010

6th June
Riverdance Boyne Company completes its farewell tour at the end of its record-setting 13th run of performances in Wolf Trap Farm, Virginia. USA

23 June
Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for the seventh consecutive summer season for a 10 week run from June to August.

2010

2nd March
Riverdance performs in South Korea for the first time, with 16 shows at the Sejong Centre, Seoul.

8th March
Riverdance Farewell Tour of the UK commences playing ten cities across the UK from March to May. To date in the UK Riverdance has played to over 2.9 million people in well over 1000 performances in 18 cities

17th March
Riverdance returns to Radio City Music Hall New York to play 8 farewell performances and celebrate its 15th anniversary. Riverdance has played to sold-out houses at Radio City, twice in 1996, and in 1997, 1998, 2005 and now in 2010, with a record breaking 95 performances in this historic venue.

2010

January
Riverdance Bann Company continues it first major tour of China. The 10 week, 12 city China tour plays to over 150,000 people.

Riverdance Boyne Company continues to tour the USA, playing Final Performances in 40 cities from January to June 2010. In Europe, the Corrib Company also continues its Farewell tour.

9th February
On the 15th Anniversary of the very first show at the Point Theatre, Dublin in 1995, Riverdance performs across 3 continents in Beijing China, Stuttgart Germany and Amarillo Texas, USA

February
In China, a new DVD is filmed “Riverdance live from Beijing”. This new High Definition DVD directed by Declan Lowney, will be released on Blu Ray in Summer 2010 (see pic).

2009

September
Riverdance plays in Slovenia for the first time for sell out performances in the Ljublijana arena.

October
Riverdance plays its farewell performances in Oberhausen, Germany – the first non-English speaking venue the show played in 1997

Riverdance returns to the The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

November
Riverdance performs as guest artistes on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ on BBC TV.

December
Riverdance embarks on its first major tour of China, playing 12 cities over 10 weeks

2009

April
Riverdance sets new box office record in the 80 year history of the Regent Theatre, Ipswich, UK

May
Riverdance returns to Toronto after a four year gap to play five record breaking weeks at the Canon Theatre

June
15 Riverdancers run in the 2009 Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin on June 1st to raise funds for the RNLI – the charity that saves lives at sea

Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for the sixth consecutive summer season

September
Riverdance plays to record breaking houses in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island, Canada. Extra shows are added, the last one selling out fully in under an hour.

2008

July
Riverdance tours China for the first time since 2003 playing in Beijing and Xi’an. In Beijing the company perform in the brand new Performing Arts Centre, the 2,500 seater opera house. An extra show added at short notice sells out in 90 minutes!

24th July
The Irish Olympic Boxing Team visits Riverdance in Beijing on 24th July

Summer
The Summer of 2008 sees 3 more Riverdance weddings bringing the total to 39.

September
Riverdance is proud not only to be play in the West of Ireland for the first time, but also to be the premiere act in the brand new state of the art 2,200 seater Royal Theatre in Castlebar

December
Riverdance tours Taiwan for the second time

2008

May
Riverdance returns to Killarney for 3 separate runs in 2008, the middle run in August marking the first time that there have been two Riverdance companies performing at the same time in Ireland

Riverdance returns to Japan for the fifth time after five years. Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of Japan Visits Riverdance in the ACT Theatre, Tokyo.

Riverdance is the first western show to play in the new ACT Theatre in the heart of Tokyo, where it sells out for a 4 week run

June
Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin for the fifth time for a sell-out 10 weeks

Riverdance plays in Halifax and Quebec for the first time, both runs are sellouts

2007

February
Riverdance is invited to open the new Leisure and Sports Complex in Moya Doherty’s home county of Donegal

April
Opening Night for the new Corrib Company at the Opera House, Manchester Riverdance commences its seventh tour of the UK

June
Riverdance will reopen the Gaiety Theatre Dublin after an extensive refurbishment programme beginning in February 2007

Riverdance visits Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (left) for the tenth time. Over half a million people alone have seen Riverdance at Wolf Trap, a record Riverdance is especially proud of (see pic).

December
Boyne company plays through Christmas in Sacramento, California. A first for a Riverdance company who generally take a break over the Christmas period

2006

22nd July
Riverdance takes part in a Guinness World Record breaking Irish Dance line in Trafalgar Square, London

September
Due to phenomenal public demand Riverdance schedules an additional 15 performances for the INEC, Gleneagle, Killarney, Kerry.

November
Riverdance tickets go on sale for an amazing 7th tour of the UK

2006

2nd February
Riverdance composer Bill Whelan is presented with 2006’s Industry Award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards for his outstanding contribution to the Irish music industry

7th February
Riverdance opens in Los Angeles for the fourth time to packed houses & standing ovations. Guests included Scarlett Johansson & Hugh Jackman

3rd June
Riverdance opens for the first time ever in Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland at the INEC, Gleneagle

27th June
Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre Dublin for a third summer season, to double the advance bookings of the previous year.

2005

21st August
Riverdance cast and crew donate their time to stage a performance to help fundraise for the Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre, Dublin

October
Three Riverdance shows go on tour in North America, Europe and the Far East, where the show performs in Taiwan for the first time

22nd October
Riverdance performs on ‘Congratulations’ a 2 hour Eurovision TV special, broadcast live from Copenhagen, celebrating 50 years of the Eurovision Song Contest.

2005

26th March
The Boyne Company run in Erie, PA ends with the presentation of a plaque to mark the largest gross ticket sales in the Warner Theatre’s history

4th April
Opening night for the Avoca Company in London as the UK tour continues with Riverdance’s sixth visit to the Hammersmith Apollo

June
Riverdance returns to the Gaiety Theatre Dublin for another Summer run

Pollstar announces 2005’s “Top 100 Tours”, listing Riverdance as the 8th highest grossing touring show in North America, in Top 10 company with U2 and Elton John

2005

January
The show’s Tenth Anniversary year begins with a debut by the Boyne Company in Oklahoma City.

The Avoca Company brings Riverdance to Russia for the first time, with performances in St. Petersburg and Moscow

15th March
Radio City Music Hall hosts Riverdance for the fifth time and is the seat of the show’s tenth anniversary gala performance on Tuesday March 15th.

15th March
The Mayor of New York, Michael R. Bloomberg, declares today 15th March 2005 ‘Riverdance Day’. Citizens of the Big Apple affirm this honour by awarding the show a sell-out run.

2004

28th August
The Foyle Company closes in Dublin, becoming the most successful run ever in the 135-year history of The Gaiety Theatre

16th September
The Boyne brings Riverdance to Anchorage, Alaska for the first time

October
Riverdance announces it will sponsor The Maureen Potter Scholarship in association with The Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin

November
Riverdance plays for the first time in the Czech Republic and Hungary, performing in Prague, Debrecen and Budapest

2004

30th April
To celebrate this anniversary, the producers announce they are presenting Riverdance in a specially devised theatrical production in Dublin’s beautifully renovated Gaiety Theatre

25th May
Riverdance receives the keys to the city of Wilmington, DE, where the Boyne Company is performing for two weeks

12th June
Opening night for the new Foyle Company, in The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.

29th June
Due to phenomenal demand for tickets, the Dublin run is extended by an additional 4 weeks, now closing on August 28th

2004

12th February
The latest addition to the Riverdance family, the Avoca Company, opens in Lille, France

February
A milestone for the show’s website – www.riverdance.com – The site receives a record-breaking 11 million hits during the month of February.

April
Astonishingly www.riverdance.com breaks it’s own record with 14.3 million hits in one month alone.

30th April
10 years ago today Riverdance first appeared on stage during the Eurovision Song Contest.

2003

October
The Liffey Company takes Riverdance to Asia, commencing with the first tour of China. 100,000 people attend the 11 sell-out performances in Beijing and Shanghai.

The Riverdance Asian tour moves on to Japan for the show’s third Japanese tour, this time adding two new cities: Sendai and Hiroshima.

Composer Mary McAuliffe is the recipient of the first Riverdance scholarship awarded by the Ireland-Canada University Foundation, allowing her to create a Canadian-Irish choral suite for the Newfoundland Youth Symphony Choir.

December
The Liffey finishes their tour of the Far East with Riverdance’s first performances in Kuala Lumpur

2003

21st June
A proud Riverdance troupe participates in the opening ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin’s Croke Park, marking the first time the Games ever took place outside the USA

21st June
The Riverdance performance at the 2003 Special Olympics features the longest ever Riverdance line, as over 100 dancers fill the stage:

September
The new Boyne Company tour North America, playing 15 cities, opening in New Haven, another first for Riverdance

2003

January-March
The Liffey Company tours Australia for the third time, adding Canberra where they perform Riverdance completely outdoors for the first time

24th February
Riverdance composer, Bill Whelan is conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Limerick, in recognition of his outstanding and distinctive contribution to modern Ireland

16th May
The National University of Ireland confers Riverdance Producer and Director, Moya Doherty and John McColgan, with honorary degrees in recognition of their contribution to the entertainment industry (see pic)

2002

6th March
The Mayor of San Francisco proclaims Wednesday March 6th Riverdance Day in honour of the show’s 5000th performance.

5th July
Riverdance Producer, Moya Doherty is conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Ulster, in recognition of her promotion of enterprise in the arts

August
The Liffey Company open the second leg of their 2002 tour to enraptured audiences in Tallinn, Estonia – another first for Riverdance.

2002

15th January
The Liffey Company returns to Belfast for the 2002 UK Tour, the first time Riverdance has toured there in 5 years. An extra week is added due to demand. The show is seen by over 35,000 people in 2 weeks

17th January
The Lagan Company returns to Mexico City for the second time, commencing a North American tour that will include San Francisco, Boston and Toronto

5th March
The Lagan and Liffey companies celebrate the 5000th Riverdance show with performances in San Francisco and the Edinburgh Playhouse.

2001

28 August
As promised, Riverdance opens in Köln. The audience welcomes the rebuilt production with rapturous applause

September
Following the horrific events of September 11th 2001, the Lagan company collect over US$70,000 for the Twin Towers Fund at their eight shows in Fort Worth, Texas

16 November
Riverdance appears on Children in Need in London. Over UK£12 million is raised on the night.

2001

28th June
Riverdance is forced to cancel their first-ever Madrid dates when fire rips through the venue, hours before the show is due to open.

28th June
Although virtually everything is lost in the Madrid fire, the producers promise to be ready for the next tour due to start in Köln, Germany on August 28th

26th August
The last performance of Riverdance – On Broadway at The Gershwin Theatre marks the end of a hugely successful 18-month run

2001

26th April
The Shannon Company performs at the United Nations Building in support of the Chernobyl Children Project

21st May
Riverdance Live from Geneva is filmed at the Geneva Arena, Switzerland

28th May
Riverdance performs in Milan on its first visit to Italy

12th June
Spain experiences Riverdance for the first time in Barcelona

20th June
Riverdance visits Lisbon for the show’s first performance in Portugal

2000

12th July
The Liffey Company opens Riverdance – The Homecoming at the Point Theatre Dublin, five years since Riverdance – The Show first opened in Dublin in 1995.

12th July
The success of Riverdance – The Homecoming reaffirms the Irish audience’s love for the show

13th October
Riverdance premières in Hong Kong at the start of an Asian tour, continuing on to première in Singapore, Fukuoka and Nagoya; the show also revisits Tokyo and Osaka

2000

11th February
A redesigned website is launched at www.riverdance.com

16th March
Riverdance – On Broadway opens with the newly formed Shannon Company at the Gershwin Theatre, New York.

16th March
Riverdance – On Broadway features new costume designs by award-winning Irish designer, Joan Bergin (The Riverdance costumes up to this point having been designed by Jen Kelly)

16th March
Riverdance – On Broadway new songs by Bill Whelan, performed by Brian Kennedy and Tsidii Le Loka.

1999

October
Moya Doherty & John McColgan are joint winners of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

17th October
Riverdance performs at the Bayerischer Fernsehpreis (Television Awards)

22nd October
The Liffey Company performs at a UNESCO Charity Dinner in Köln

31st October
Charity performance at the Opening Ceremony of the 27th
International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

13th November
Riverdance performs at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award ceremony in Palm Springs

1999

1st June
Riverdance heads for Broadway announcing a limited engagement at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for Spring 2000

3rd June
The one-millionth ticket for Riverdance in Germany is sold

21st August
Her Royal Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway attends a special performance by the troupe at an Oslo Red Cross Benefit

19th September
Riverdance performs at a charity event in Rome’s open air Piazza del Popolo

27th September
Riverdance performs at a charity benefit for Trócaire in RTÉ, Dublin

1999

April
The first Riverdance Gaiety School of Acting Scholarship is inaugurated

14th April
Riverdance has its French première in Paris at Le Palais des Congrès

6th May
Riverdance opens for the first time in Mexico City

27th May
The first Riverdance Fulbright Scholarships in Dance are endowed; the first time in the 40-year history of the Irish Fulbright Commission that scholarships in dance have been awarded

1999

18th January
Riverdance performs as part of Maureen Potter–A Celebration, presented by John McColgan in association with the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

28th January
Riverdance is voted the top grossing Variety/Family Entertainment show of 1998 in the USA.

5th March
Riverdance opens for the first time in Japan to sell-out audiences in Tokyo and Osaka and receives standing ovations lasting ten minutes

8th March
His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess Masako attend Riverdance at the International Forum in Tokyo

1998

20th September
Riverdance performs for Paul Newman’s Barretstown Hole-in-the-Wall Gang in Fantasia

24th September
The show returns to Radio City Music Hall, New York for the fourth time.

11th October
Riverdance takes part in a major parade in Osaka, Japan as part of the announcement of performances in Tokyo and Osaka in March 1999

7th November
Riverdance performs at the Bambi Awards in Karlsruhe, Germany.

1998

12th August
Riverdance begins its European tour in Oberhausen, Germany.

24th August
Pollstar announces that Riverdance has filled the No. 1 and No. 2 positions for the highest grossing show in America that week.

15th September
Riverdance performs in Explosive Dance in the Albert Hall, London in aid of landmine victims

17th September
Moya Doherty is listed in the Irish Tatler’s 100 Leading Women coinciding with 100 years of Irish Tatler Magazine.

1998

13th January
Riverdance launches its 1998 touring season with the debut of a third production – the Lagan Company – in Vancouver at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts.

20th March
The Liffey Company opens in the Aotea Centre in Auckland. The Gala preview is held in aid of The Ireland Fund of New Zealand

18th June
Riverdance performs at the Cinema Expo in Amsterdam

30th June
Riverdance performs at the launch of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt

7th August
Riverdance performs at the Red Cross Ball in Monaco celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Monaco Red Cross.

1997

18th October
Riverdance opens in Chicago Auditorium Theatre for its longest American run to date.

1st November
Riverdance – Live at Radio City video, is released in North America.

5th November
Guest performance by members of Riverdance on the QE2 luxury cruise liner.

10th November
The show opens in The Apollo, Hammersmith for its fourth London run

Pic: Eileen Ivers

1997

25th June
Riverdance opens for a two week run at the Wolf Trap Farm, Virginia, the company’s first outdoor performance.

4th July
Riverdance opens in Oberhausen, Germany, the company’s first performance before a non-English speaking audience sells out.

13th September
Riverdance celebrates its 1,000th performance with simultaneous shows in Boston and Birmingham.

13th September
Riverdance performs at Proms in the Park in London’s Hyde Park to a live audience of over 40,000.

26th September
Riverdance returns to Radio City Music Hall in New York for a sell-out 3 week run, the second longest run of consecutive performances in the theatre’s history.

1997

10th January
Riverdance recommences its US tour with a three-week sell-out run at the Wang Centre, Boston.

17th January
Moya Doherty is made Honorary Vice-President of The Irish Club in London.

10th February
Riverdance starts its UK Tour in The Edinburgh Playhouse.

18th February
The Riverdance video is No. 2 in the US sales charts.

26th February
Bill Whelan wins a Grammy Award for the Riverdance Album in the ‘Best Musical Show Album’ category.

1996

11th November
The new video Riverdance – Live at Radio City, recorded at Radio City Music Hall, New York is released in the UK.

12th November
American Wake from Riverdance is filmed at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for inclusion in a Christmas TV Special.

15th November
The 1997 13-week Riverdance Australian Tour sells out in advance to 350,000 people.

18th November
Publication of the illustrated book, Riverdance -The Story, by Sam Smyth.

December
The Riverdance CDs and Videos have collectively spent over 150 weeks in the UK music/video charts

1996

17th May
Riverdance returns to the Apollo, London for a three and a half month run with advance box office sales in excess of UK£5m. The show is extended until the middle of January 1997

August
www.riverdance.com is launched

5th August
Riverdance- A Journey, a video documentary about the show, is released.

21st September
Riverdance celebrates its 400th performance; the show has been seen by over 1.3 million people.

2nd October
Riverdance starts its US tour at Radio City Music Hall, New York, christening this US company the Lee after Cork’s main river, while the company continuing to perform in the UK is now known as the Liffey after Dublin’s main river.

1996

14th March
Riverdance opens at Radio City Music Hall, New York in St. Patrick’s week for 8 sell-out shows. Radio City Music Hall merchandise sales record is smashed during the first performance of Riverdance

18th March
Riverdance enters the US video charts at No. 19.

25th March
The Riverdance CD enters the Billboard World Music chart at No.1

28th March
Riverdance sells out for an unprecedented four-week run at the King’s Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

1st May
Riverdance opens for a record breaking two-week run at The Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork, Ireland

1995

6th June
Riverdance opens at The Apollo, Hammersmith for a sell-out four-week run.

17th July
Riverdance performs at the Royal College of Music, London in the presence of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret.

26th July
Riverdance returns, by popular demand, to The Point Theatre, Dublin for a six week sell-out run.

3rd October
Riverdance opens for another six-week sell-out run at The Apollo, Hammersmith. By overwhelming public demand the run is extended twice making a box office record of 151 sold out shows at London’s Apollo

1995

9th February
Riverdance – The Show, the first Irish dance show ever, opens at the Point Theatre, Dublin for a sell-out five-week run, with tickets reaching record sales of over 120,000.

7th April
Video release of Riverdance goes straight to No. 1 in the Irish charts.

8th May
Riverdance performs at the Royal Gala 50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations at the special invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Charles. The Royal Gala is viewed by an audience of 20 million

5th June
UK video release of Riverdance goes straight to the No. 2 position in the UK charts moving to No. 1 the following week and holding the No. 1 or No. 2 positions for the next seven months, becoming the all-time best-selling music video in the UK.

1994

30th April
Riverdance the original seven-minute version is first performed at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest and transmitted to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide.

May
Riverdance Single release goes straight to No. 1 in the Irish charts and holds that position for 18 weeks
Single reaches No. 9 in the UK charts.

November
Riverdance the original seven-minute version is invited to perform in London at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance in the presence of HRH Prince Charles.

12th November
Tickets go on sale for Riverdance -The Show, exceeding IR£1million in three weeks