Riverdance: A Journey - Original uncut version (1996 Documentary) (1080p50 Remaster)

A fascinating official documentary looking at the early history of #Riverdance, from the original Eurovision Song Contest performance, the 1994/1995 shows with Michael Flatley, and the 1996 New York shows with Colin Dunne. Lots of behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals and interviews with Jean, Colin & Michael. This is the original uncut 75-minute VHS version - which replaces the edited 45-minute DVD version I uploaded last month.

[@kanamichelle7404]

I was so privileged to see Riverdance twice, with Michael Flatley. It was so special! I haven’t heard how he is doing since 2023, and I pray he is doing well. The new guy is phenomenal too, but I will always treasure the moments of seeing Michael in two separate performances with Jean Butler. The original cast was magical. Stunning and memorable!

[@JLBodhran]

Was that in one of the two Dublin runs, or the 1st London run?

[@kanamichelle7404]

@@JLBodhran First US tour.

[@turkfiles]

A big 👍 to you! It was so inspiring to see all the behind the scenes moments. It gave me the opportunity to look inside of the heart and soul of RiverDance! Thanks for uploading this longer version.

[@CallemJayNZ]

It was amazing to see how Jean Butler changed in that short time between the original video in Dublin and the second video in New York. She seems so much more confident at the Radio City performance,While she was already a very graceful dancer she somehow became even more graceful in that time

[@jacobkeppler1984]

This show will take your breath away

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I loved this documentary. I had the DVD of the New York show and the documentary, came on a bonus disc. Whenever they get to the part about Michael leaving the show, my heart breaks.😢 Like John McColgan said, Michael was a brilliant dancer and choreographer but Jean Butler also mentioned that Michael was only thinking of himself and not how the other members of the show would be affected. I agree but sadly, it's all too common in the entertainment world. Someone gets a big ego, starts getting "drunk" on their own popularity and begins to think that they, and they alone, are the reason for the success that the people around them, are having. Before I fell in love with Irish dance, I was involved in the music industry. I can't tell you how many times a wildly popular and successful band broke-up because one of their members started to become more famous and well known than the others and discord created a professional fracture. Michael Flatley and other narcissistic celebrities, forget that success is a GROUP effort. Yes, you have talent but so do the people in those supporting roles that are backing you up. One musician who was poplular in the 1980's, is now learning that the hard way here in 2024. His singing voice is shot, he appears drunk and wayward on stage, people are walking out of his shows and he's destroying his legacy. Michael did go on to produce "Lord of the Dance" but that show has deteriorated to nothing more than a combination of Victoria's Secret and Chippendales. The females are dancing in their underwear and the male dancers are bare-chested. Thankfully, Riverdance has stayed true and classy. Michael's other shows, Celtic Tiger and the various re-vamps of 'Lord of the Damce' have been commercial flops and nowhere near as successful as Riverdance.But hey, you reap what you sow !! Oh how far, the mighty (in ego) have fallen.😮

[@Ron-Ayres]

I agree re MF - he always struck me as a highly talented but arrogant arsehole, tbh. Tales of him shagging a revolving door of female dancers in the wings are rife in the industry - I also wonder what #metoo would make of him now... Am curious who the 1980s musician is?

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

"This is us writing out the violations to Radio City Music Hall" "No, no, no, no violations." 😂😂

[@theemrpoint123]

I have this on DVD, and it's the 75-minute version. It's an Australian DVD. 45-minute cut for other regions? In any case, thank you for the upload!

[@JLBodhran]

Oh really? The 45min one was featured on the 10 year anniversary DVD boxed set, which at the time was the only DVD version I could find for sale online. The 45min version has pauses for ad breaks in, so that was the cut that was shown on TV originally in 1997, after the VHS had come out.

[@theemrpoint123]

@@JLBodhran Yeah, I have both DVDs. The 75-minute cut it seems was a rare find.

[@JLBodhran]

I've just ordered what looks like a PAL copy, must be a very rare pressing. I'll upload that one and delete this video if it turns out to be truly uncut 😩

[@JLBodhran]

Well I have the DVD, and its not a very nice transfer, quite dark & smeary, IMO the VHS transfer is better, slightly sharper and less dark - I don't know if I have the same DVD as you have. Mine has "A journey" in a small orange box on the top-left of the cover? It looks a bit like a bootleg in person haha

[@theemrpoint123]

@@JLBodhran Yes, we have the same DVD. True, the video quality is not great.

[@culbycove4963]

8:48 foreshadowing the Flatley departure 🫢😗

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

45:14 - 45:25, Am I off, or does that little bit that was absent in the edited DVD version change the tone of Flatley's response to that specific question dramatically?

[@JLBodhran]

Also the "I doubt it" part of the answer from Michael is silly anyway, because Colin I believe was Michael's understudy even before he left the show?

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

@@JLBodhran *Colin I believe was Michael's understudy even before he left the show?* I believe that is correct, don't quote me on that though heh.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

​@@JLBodhran yes he was. I had the New York show on DVD and even though Colin was the lead, for some reason, during the 'Thunderstorm' segment, Pat Roddy was the lead. I would love to see if Moya Doherty and John McColgan put together a documentary detailing where the dancers are now, in 2024. I do know that many are married and have families. Here's hoping that their children have inherited some of their great talent. 🥰🤗

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

@@jocelynharris-fx8ho A shame that after Lord of the Dance Flatley deals with lots and lots of pain and the like from the toll it all took on his body (granted LotD IIRC was a lot more intense in a lot of respects, wasn't it?)

[@lynnlobliner3933]

Colin, Michael's replacement, may have had impressive qualifications but he ISN'T/WASN'T Michael. Maybe if he lost the facial hair? I'm just sayin'. Yes, the show has continued with popularity for 30 years, but no one is still either Jean and/or Michael.