Two dancers touring the United States with Riverdance 30 - The New Generation spent a good part of their St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago at the Irish American Heritage Center teaching a workshop and promoting the show’s April 22 - 27 stop at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
“The production has new costumes, updated lighting, a revamped score and retains its iconic choreography,” dancer Sam Felling said.
Produced by John McColgan and Moya Doherty, Riverdance entered the world as a 7-minute intermission piece at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which was staged at Dublin’s Point Theatre that year.
Riverdance 30 - The New Generation cast members Sam Felling (center left) and Brianna Doran (center right) led a introductory Irish dance workshop on St. Patrick's Day at the Irish American Heritage Center. The production will be at the Cadillac Palace Theatre April 22 - 27
If you haven’t seen Eurovision, each competing nation is represented by one singer and one song. Eurovision’s most famous performers have been Abba in 1974 and Celine Dion in 1988.
A sensation in the making, next up for Riverdance was a video, with the proceeds going to help famine-and-genocide ravaged Rwanda. The 2-hour theatrical version debuted in February 1995 at The Point.
Bill Whalen’s score took on a life of its own, with the titular number becoming one of the best-selling songs of all time in Ireland and the music winning a Grammy.
Riverdance launched the career of Chicago's dancing plumber, Michael Flatley, too. Flatley and the Riverdance producers parted ways. He went on to put together Lord of Dance, which premiered in 1996, and other shows.
Step forward to today
Felling hails from St. Louis, where she took up Irish dancing at the age of six with The Clark Academy of Irish Dance. She’s performed in various Irish dance productions in more than 25 countries and first joined Riverdance in 2023.
After the workshop, Felling headed back to St. Louis to enjoy the rest of the holiday with her family. They frequently hit the Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Dogtown neighborhood, she said.
Joining Felling to lead the workshop was Brianna Doran. Doran is from the Raleigh, NC area, and her father is from County Down. Doran and her family saw Riverdance when she was very young, and she was hooked.
Like Felling, Doran said she would be heading home after the workshop to spend time with her family. They’d be having the traditional American Irish corned beef and cabbage dinner. Back in North Carolina, Doran is an assistant teacher at the Triggle Academy of Irish Dance . She’s also a real estate agent.
As for the workshop, the two dancers said it was the first that they had done for Riverdance. Irish American Heritage Center staff said it was the first-of-its kind offering there, too.
(SPDworkshopA) People of all abilities learned basic Irish dance steps from Riverdance 30 - The New Generation cast members Sam Felling (center left) and Brianna Doran (center right) at a workshop on St. Patrick's Day at the Irish American Heritage Center. The production will be at the Cadillac Palace Theatre April 22 - 27.
Tickets Here!
Broadway in Chicago put together the gathering and promoted it on social media. It was open to dancers of all skill levels and drew about 30 participants.
Showing the continued appeal of Riverdance, the event also drew coverage from quite a few Chicago media outlets and even a crew from Korea.
Several reporters even took part. Not me. I get exhausted just watching Irish dancing.
Amanda Robertson of Chicago was one of those who did join the workshop.
“I found out about it on Instagram and thought I would give it a try. I love Riverdance and watch it all the time. This is my first crack at it,” Robertson said.
During a break, Roberton said that the workout-like workshop was kicking her butt.
Even experienced dancer Brazhal Brewer of Chicago said her calves were burning by breaktime.
“I’ve done ballet, jazz and hip-hop and was excited to try Irish dancing,” Brewer said.
Brewer said she quickly learned how important breath control is for Irish dancing - along with great posture, working as a team and working on movements she found to be a bit robotic.
“I like to think I am in okay shape, but Irish dancing is quite athletic. You need strong legs and good balance,” said Eve Kotlarz of Niles. “Taking this workshop is giving me a renewed respect for the craft of Irish dancing.”
