Riverdance Final Performancel Reaction

[@rosachaney911]

My husband and I went to see the live show, fantastic, the electricity in the theater was palpable. Totally amazing!!

[@JulioG84]

Bro your forehead was shining more and more. I just knew you was waaaaaay in it. I've watched this 20+ times. AMAZING!!!!

[@Jinjerella]

The entire 2 hours performance of Riverdance was incredible. It was on cable at one point for a month and every time it was on my mom made me watch it with her. She absolutely loved them. She passed a few years ago and this made me remember sitting there in the living room and watching this with her and how much she loved it. Thanks for the memories this brought back.

[@bikeman9899]

The athletic abilities of all the dancers is incredible. Jean Butler and Michael Flatley are in a class all by themselves.

[@naomifigueroa1428]

I asked for tickets to Riverdance for my 21st bday.. I’m 42 now and it’s still one of the best nights of my life

[@oregonchick76]

I'm 42 and saw a Riverdance performance in 2000, I think, and I still think it's one of the best, most engrossing live performances I've ever seen. It's so amazing to see everyone moving so crisply and in perfect time together. I'd 100% see a similar performance again.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

Wow, I also asked to see Riverdance for my 21st birthday. I'm 23 now.

[@johncourtright1632]

It was an awesome show! We went with friends and had a great time. It's fun to watch the video, but when it's being performed right in front of you, it makes an impression!! I enjoyed the music as much as the dancing! And the lead violinist (with a beautiful blue violin), was an amazing performer as well.

[@sallykohorst8803]

I saw it in 1997 in New York and one amazing day I wont forget. We saw the matinee and the bell hops really take you to your seats.

[@wysteriaherr8306]

That's Michael Flately and Jean Butler. They made Irish step dancing a pop culture phenomenon. Riverdance is still touring today, and has inspired Celtic thunder and Celtic woman

[@annek1226]

He paid the price for his efforts! Like flamingo dancers the toll it takes on the body is unbelievable! It is no tap dancing! He took Celtic dancing and put his own spin on it! Over the years he broke numerous bones in his feet and legs because of the force exerted. He didn’t retire just because of age but from the damage he had done to himself!

[@Gizmologist1]

When they did these shows around the world ( I saw it live twice) the stages were custom built above the facility's regular stage with 3/4 plywood on firring strips to allow a little flexibility to bot cushion the dancer's feet, knees and ankles as well as to allow several carefully selected PZM microphones to be placed all over the actual stage, UNDER the false stageto pick up the tapping. The entire show (this was the first) and those new ones after this show were unbelievable in the solo footwork as well as the chorus dancers'. Michael Flatley is retired now and has a hard time even walking due to all the injuries and strains he suffered as the star and choreographer of these shows over 15 years.

[@anessalyn1035]

riverdance is just incredible. The lead dancer Michael was known for fast footwork. i was so glad to see you smiling and enjoying this. The whole thing is on youtube. Thank you for whoever asked for it

[@sallykohorst8803]

Just wonderful. I'm crying! I saw it on Broadway in New York 1997. I was blown away by the dancing music but all the stage they used. That woman in video is the one I will always love the most.

[@Loulizabeth]

I still remember watching this when it was first performed as an interval act for the Eurovision Song Concert. No one expected anything like this. We were all just blown away. And yes it went on to be show that toured and May well still be touring. It never gets old.

[@kathleen3177]

the original Riverdance troup with Michael Flatley is still unsurpassed

[@Matteo714]

As far as overall show the 2002 at Geneva show is my favorite. Some subtle changes that add to the show. Check it out ...

[@phils866]

Yup. Flatley commands the stage, not only with his dancing, but also his charisma, and Jean Butler is elegance personified. Still gives me goosebumps watching this. Oh to have been in the audience, when this first burst on the stage at Eurovision Ireland, way back in 1984! Nothing before, or since, on the Eurovision song contest has ever had such an impact, with the possible exception of Abba's Waterloo. Oh, I almost forgot....great raction! Loved your grins when they upped the tempo!

[@YhwhKhaiMostHigh]

Agree!!!

[@monicamurray5090]

Oh for definite. No matter how many times I watch it it still makes the hairs stand up on my arms. I think the wonderful intro from Anuna helps.

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

Jean and Michael WOW

[@jules8262]

Michael Flatley is THE legend Fastest ever recorded feet. All of his work is out of this world.

[@cbilky2914]

Reminds me of clogging and flat-footing from back home in Kentucky which are dances in the Appalachian mountains where my people come from, We are hugely influenced in the mountains in our dance and music by our ancestors who settled those areas, the Irish, Scots-Irish, and Scottish.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

Clogging was started by the women in the cloth weaving mills of the British Isles (predominantly northern England, southern Scotland, and Ulster) . They wore hard (often wooden) shoes for safety and would move their feet in time to the machinery in order to relieve pain and cramping from standing. Mix it with the figures of country dances in the same areas and you have the clogging and square dancing of Appalachia. I am a similar ancestral mix but mine settled in the Great Lakes area so we did not develop the music or dance but the Scots and Scots-Irish in the area kept the curling tradition going. My hometown's curling club first opened in 1851.

[@lendaly294]

It is actually called Irish Step dancing.In Northumberland in the North East of England we have Rapper Dancing,Which originated in the coal mines.Here is an old silent film of Rapper Clog Dancing kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIixooyLiJaLjsk...And here is the Kingsmen a Newcastle Upon Tyne based Rapper dance group kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIixooyLiJaLjsk.

[@louchat333]

I think that is where it came from. Or something similar.

[@zxvjy]

Must have been nearly 30 years when this first came to our attention. It was the interlude performance for the Eurovision song contest in Ireland. Never had heard of it before and the performance blew the world away.

[@Arnold-l1k]

I very seriously doubt if anybody remembers exactly who won the Eurovision song contest in 94, but people remember this even now. And remember this performance was the performance for the contest intermission.

[@deanareimann]

Many years. My daughter did competitive Irish step dance for over 10 years and earned many awards. It's huge still!

[@cherylbyrnes2826]

I love ❤️ my Irish ☘️ Heritage and watching them dance makes my heart happy. I’m so happy you enjoyed this .. I would never make fun you I would love to see you do something like this one day.

[@jackijean8805]

I was lucky enough to be at last performance w Michael Flatley. He started Riverdance n toured for years. I took my parents n we were in third row. It was phenomenal. So happy to see you love this as well. Look him up. He was known as “ Lord of the Dance”. Irish dancing is amazing. He tapped at 28 taps per sec. Then he apparently upped it to 35. Crazy. Great reaction

[@slimblu1]

Modern Renaissance Man ....Your eyebrow choreography is on point!!

[@canadiangirl5159]

My daughter was in love with this video when it first came out, and we watched the whole thing many times. I still love watching it, this never gets old.

[@cathyk9302]

Brought Irish dance to the masses in an updated and fun way. Saw it live in London, cried - was the best thing I'd ever seen. Loved that people wanted to dance after it.

[@tigerprincess9222]

As someone of Irish ancestry 💚🍀 I loved when Riverdance was popular. I could watch it all day long. Awesome video! Thanks for playing it.

[@cindycowan249]

The strength and control is amazing.

[@tanana2070]

Amazing!! They are so together, it sounds like one, just louder! Believe it or not, while wintering in Florida, we learned a line dance to one of their dances. Kept speeding up, it was great! 15 yrs ago and I still remember the dance. It was awesome!

[@vanitamann7985]

Your reactions are priceless! Thank you! I love watching this, I had the VHS, now I need the DVD of it. It's amazing.

[@shirleymongold9491]

Whew!!!! I can barely walk up the steps let alone do all that !! This should be seen live tho because when the cameras pan to just their faces??? They're all smiling and their heads bobbing ever which way. Loved it

[@markpotter3963]

I was lucky enough to see this in person in Chicago and you couldn’t quit smiling during the whole show. I would also suggest looking for ballet to the song purple rain I saw performed by the Joffrey ballet

[@lee6198]

Every St Patrick's Day I play Riverdance for my Pre K students. Maybe 5 or 6 songs. They sit there MESMERIZED. I always tell them to get up and dance along. They love it.

[@valoriegibbons378]

Traditional Irish stop dancing is when the arms are held stiffly at their side. Michael Flatley has the record for fastest feet in tap dancing. Jean is a world renowned Irish step dancer.

[@vickistoner8314]

I have not seen Riverdance for several years. I also watched this on public television right after the tour. This is a specific type of dance. It is a traditional Irish step-dancing. There is a large community with an Irish Heritage in St. Paul, Minnesota where I grew up and still live. Even when I was under 10 there were step dancing schools all over St. Paul. They start learning step dancing at 4 or 5 years old! I am 66. It has always been a part of my life but Riverdance was the kind of professional step-dancing you only saw in Ireland and the British Isles. It was and is outstanding and breathtaking!!

[@soulful41]

I went and saw them in my 20's. It was really breathtaking. You felt those sounds just vibrating off the walls. It was like you were a part of it. It had a really positive vibe.

[@redraven4177]

Just to add a note, I was hoping to go back stage a d get autographs. My brother in law knew the stage manager. But the cast left right afterwards and split up to go to local hospitals and perform for patients.

[@tiaelina1090]

River dance was something to see, didn’t have the pleasure to see them while they were touring here in Australia. They did record a few of their tours and I was able to watch in on the television with my parents. Blew my brain away. Thank you for letting me relive those memories.🌹

[@IanMcgrath-wn7fd]

Hi Tia hope all is well with you and your family,best wishes from Bonnie Scotland.

[@softshallow7435]

This is the best react I’ve seen from you. Damn you were sweating! 😅 Michael flatleys legs were insured for $1 million.

[@snow5962]

I would've insured them for more than that if possible lol.

[@downtime86stars17]

I got to see Riverdance live via one of their touring companies. It was absolutely mesmerizing, and I think yes, they are back to touring.

[@jamespasifull]

The British actor, Sean McGuire, who's pretty well known in the USA for TV shows, was a childhood Irish Dance champion!

[@kathrynbellerose6216]

Great seeing this performance in person years back. Irish step dancing.

[@belleferrar8898]

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing this show live in Boston, MA. Irish step dancing is extremely disciplined and takes years of practice to reach this level, only the best of the best were chosen out of thousands that auditioned. Michael Flatley demanded perfection and it showed in the performance. Great reaction Ty.

[@redraven4177]

Had the pleasure of seeing Lord of the Dance in Baltimore many years ago. Best show ever!

[@terriertz6837]

I saw this on PBS 20+ years ago. They were phenomenal. They were choreographed like a well-synchronized drum line.

[@oregonchick76]

That's such a great comparison! It's totally like a drum line.

[@archygirl1750]

Love your channel. Jean Butler and Michael Flatley were beyond belief.

[@JonathonShrum]

25 years still going strong! Just saw it a few days ago and still as amazing now as it ever has been!

[@mchivers17]

I went to see Riverdance some years back, I sat in the second row from the front and it was absolutely mind-blowing and you could feel that beat through your whole body. And the music was absolutely beautiful too. 👌🙏💕

[@hectorsmommy1717]

The show has evolved over the years but the best version of this set-piece still is the original one done as the interval act for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest.

[@paulco4145]

I saw an interview with Flatley and some anchorette in NYC when he was touring there. They practiced so much that he met her for breakfast (the only free time he had). She was sipping on some mocha/latte thing, he ordered (and devoured) an enormous porterhouse steak (it was well over 2 lbs) with 6 or 8 eggs on it. She was aghast at that, but when you burn 10K calories a day, you can pretty much eat whatever you want.

[@patdonnelly9392]

thank you for this! Irish dancing is something I grew up with...and it really is cool!

[@quagmire01]

I loved that show!!! It was amazing live. Thanks for reviewing this.

[@BeeuTforAshes]

I have seen the live show 2 times and would love to see it again and again. Phenomenal.

[@carolynpeach5180]

I remember them all to well. My husband surprised me with tickets to one of their shows. The Celtic dance that they do is awesome. It is an Irish dance and if you think that was awesome you should have seen them live! I will always cherish that now that my husband has past away. It will always be a loving memory!! I loved your reaction.

[@elkeflavell307]

Your pure joy in watching this is contagious!

[@Gizmologist1]

Actually, This is the FIRST performance of Riverdance broadcast by the BBC in the mid 90s. I saw Michael Flatley live in two shows- Riverdance (the original) and Lord of the Dance. The audience all left after the show hanbds with seriously sore hands from applauding so hard. Over the years he did a LOT of damage to his feet, ankles, legs hips and spine that he can hardly walk anymore.

[@Steeleperfect]

I saw both this and their later show, Lord of the Dance in Oxford years ago. Two of the most amazing nights of my life. Watching them dance flawlessly for hours was incredible.

[@Gizmologist1]

There about 24 mics across the stage. In addition, the entire stage surface was custom built and raised about two inches above the actual stage so it has a bit of give so they do not damage their feet and ankles. That spacew also helps to amplify thye contact between the taps on the shoes and the wooden surface. Some folks thinbg the tapping is computer generated and played back. I can assure you that ewvery single tap is performed LIVE right before your eyes and ears.

[@bis3cuit]

Wow! That really bought back memories. When River Dance was first preformed it blew everyone away, it’s absolutely amazing. Then came Lord Of The Dance, both shows are mind blowing and something really worthwhile to watch. Really amazing productions.

[@bethhutto9800]

I love this so much! And I'm ashamed to say that I purchased tickets to go see this the end of 1990's & forgot about it. Didn't remember till an hour or so after the show had started. I was so upset! For 2 reasons. I really wanted to see it & the money spent for nothing. Lol

[@SusanLBlish]

I saw Riverdance Live when I lived in Florida.. it was AMAZING !

[@cherrylsagan63]

The mikes that picked up the steps danced were under the stage floor. Soloists would have a special area of the stage, front center, and it was wonderful. I saw both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance live. Brilliant!

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

Cool!

[@weeardguy]

And these days, dancers wearing actual mic's on their shoes with wireless transmitters is rather common as well.

[@adiarainfoster]

You can actually buy/rent the entire thing filmed back when it was making it's first rounds across the country. The whole thing is incredible ♥

[@darleneshriver3270]

I always thought they were awesome! I loved watching your reactions!

[@doloresdeal983]

Your right, the amount of training and focus is incredible! How do they breath? Wow

[@ramonaklassen9280]

Wow, I am gonna go and find more. Good stuff...loved it.

[@carollandrum9223]

Michael Flatley, who is quite in love with himself, and Jean Butler were the main dancers. Jean always looked like Nicole Kidman to me. There was something going on and he left Riverdance and formed Lord Of The Dance and is still at it I think.

[@solveigjansson8613]

The male star, michael flatley, was kicked out beacuse of artistic disagreements. he is american and renewed this dancestile. So he succeded to greate a show of his own - the lord of dance - and made a huge success and toured the world for many, many years.

[@frankscarborough1428]

Watched several performances on tv loved it. Thanks

[@matthintz9468]

Saw Michael Flatley in the original touring production of The Lord of the Dance. River Dance, The Lord of the Dance, and Feet of the Flames were gigantic in the 90s and became as synonymous with pop culture as the fight scenes in the Matrix.

[@jackijean8805]

Matt Hintz I saw as well. Frickin nuts

[@merrileekeshiro5420]

Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance, yes I was infatuated with Riverdance and Enya. My teens still remember me playing this all the time and my boys that are now late 20's.

[@wiklow22]

I took my mother to see them a few years later than this and they showed the tight connections between Irish step dance, African American tap dance and clogging from the back woods of the Smokey mts.

[@mandarinlearner]

Michael Flatley had a Guinness world record for most taps in a minute

[@mervinmannas7671]

This whole show originated from an 8minute interval section of the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 held in Dublin. It also involves a beautiful choir piece. Please check it out as its as good if not better than this.

[@detsportsfan18]

"The Irish jig guy? ..his legs flail about as if independent from his body!"

[@tedaduffy]

haha Chandler Bing

[@dcdreamwake7]

I like your honest reactions and open mind to different things.

[@brianfuller7691]

I took my wife to see Riverside and they don't do step dancing in Mexico. She is a dancer herself and she was amazed . That is seriously difficult.

[@BelindaTN]

Love this. It is nothing but pure rhythm. And it looks like they totally defy gravity. Like they are dancing on the moon or something. lol I can see Ty doing this and being really good at it.

[@jaimetodd1864]

If you search Riverdance and special Olympics they had the largest river dance line ever. It was really cool

[@Matteo714]

The 25 anniversary tour is going on now. You can still watch it live. All new and different dancers of course...

[@pjmiller5207]

I saw this in Nashville, TN in the early 2000's and it was amazing! I have to admit...I kind of thought it would be lame, but OMG...my heart was pounding the whole time! Made me want to go out and learn to tap! LOL

[@lauriivey7801]

I never saw Riverdance, but I did get to see Lord of the Dance when it came to San Antonio - - it, too, was absolutely spectacular!

[@belkyhernandez8281]

There was a river dance - American tap off once. It was fun seeing the similarities.

[@MegaJudyd]

I love watching all the different cultures dancing and singing, tell's you a lot about there heritage and love for there country.

[@pamelawatkins8972]

That was FANTASTIC, how do they dance like that without moving their arms. That would be so hard not to do

[@weeardguy]

It indeed takes a lot of strength and actually doing it properly takes almost all people at least a few years to get to a high level. I always say that there are basically 4 levels in Irish dance (well, in so called 'Commission' that is, Beginner, Primary, Intermediate, Open), with Riverdance and other shows being the unwritten fifth. Not only do the dances last longer than traditional ones (which usually only last 30 to 45 seconds, a few exceptions last longer) it's also a lot faster and a lot longer on that tempo than traditional dances. I've come to rest to the idea that starting with Irish dance at age 23 (I'm 35 now) will never get me to this level, but that's not what I was after when I started Irish dance in the first place.

[@gwengirtman1239]

I always thought River Dance should do a tour with TransSiberian Orchestra.

[@rmstacy5295]

before they were the Trans Siberia Orchestra they were Savatage,,they went in the direction they are now after the lead guitarist was killed by a drunk driver in Tampa Florida,,his name was Chris Aleva,,,before they became famous they called themselves Avatar,,but had to change their name for legal reasons,,,and decided on Savatage,,they used to practice at my exe's fathers place when we would have keg parties,,,Chris and I sat in my father in laws living room, watching the Ralph Machio movie Crossroads,drinking beer and smoking pot,,,and his wife used to babysit my youngest daughter,,like I said after Chris died, the group turned into T. S. O

[@gwengirtman1239]

Rm Stacy Thank you. I appreciate the info. I had wondered where that group came from.

[@whistlerwind7422]

@@gwengirtman1239: Both are ,but no. "Lord of the Dance" is better than "Riverdance", and "Feet of Flames" (LotD on steroids) is Fing awesome.

[@wonkothesane8691]

Yikes! I don't think the planet could survive that level of awesomeness!

[@patricialabbe1416]

Wow. The thought of that combination just blows my mind!!!

[@patrinaseay433]

Loved Riverdance. Great Celtic dancing

[@frannibarr116]

Oh Ty, that was the first appearance at Eurovision. I went to 6 of their performace including London and Radio City. And laughed and jumped up and down at all of them. I loved this! the full show is so awesome. You MUST watch the segment titled "Taps"

[@MaquillageAdore]

"His legs flail about as if independant from his body!" Points to whoever gets that reference :)

[@lindapgolan7070]

Chandler!

[@MaquillageAdore]

@@lindapgolan7070 I'm so glad someone knew!

[@CindyNavarro]

Lol! That scene from Friends popped into my mind as soon as I saw this video.

[@zoniekat]

Amazing precision. They make it look effortless.

[@secolerice]

I liked the original first show of Riverdance. It was more of the roots of Irish dance. Later it became more produced with orchestra and less traditional instruments. I never got to see it live. But I did get to see The Chieftains live. They are my favorite traditional Irish band. If you are interested, check them out. Irish step dancing was brought over here as people immigrated and became clogging in the south which then morphed into square dancing in the west. And Irish folk music as influenced a lot of our music.

[@missjoshemmett]

Michael Flatley came up with the idea of putting taps on the shoes and just using everyday Irish step dancing, with some flourishes, for the Irish and maybe some of the rest of the British Isles. PBS in the USA picked it up for free to use for raising money during their pledge drives. Hey, a couple of bucks from the Irish living here. It caught on like a house afire and EVERYONE loved it, just like you. It became massive worldwide and we can take the credit for making it what it was/is. Anyway, Michael had to preform more then he thought he ever would and it, literally, wore out his feet and legs. You can see how young he is and he had to retire from dancing, but went on to teaching and producing other productions. If you have an idea and are willing to put work into it, go for it! One never knows, my dear.

[@lindavickers5707]

Well, now I have to go and watch ALL of their videos.........love Riverdance and the Lord of the Dance!!

[@whynot2644]

Great show. I saw them live and it was amazing.

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

Cool!

[@texadan314]

Awesome! Imagine what breath control that takes.

[@taun856]

All of the dancers in this, as well as in "Lord of The Dance", were/are champion dancers - yes there is a world wide dance competition for Irish Dance... Michael Flatley (the lead male) was a multiple times World Champion, as was the female lead (Jean Butler)... The typical dancer at this level started learning at around age 5 - so, yes - they have had LOTS of practice.... You might really enjoy watching the entire video of Riverdance and/or Lord of the Dance....

[@larrycrawley-woods4515]

This was just one act from the entire performance. Riverdance told the story of what it is to emigrate from your culture, in this case Irish, and become an immigrant in another culture....trying both to retain a sense of who you have been while at the same time becoming open to a new unexplored self. In one scene there is a dance off between the Irish dancers and a group of American street dancers they come upon in New York City. At first the dancers are competitive in an adversarial way....but by the end of the dance they have come to respect each other's moves, finally dancing together because they realize they have more in common than they do in difference.

[@migizi52]

They are awesome. Wish I could see them in person. Not the first time I've seen them in a video though.

[@rowenanunn590]

Your best reaction to date! Loved it! The finale to Lord of the Dance would also blow your mind❤❣

[@reneebush5292]

I saw them at TPAC in Nashville. It was phenomenal. Loved it.

[@nightthornkvala94132]

It's been several years since I've seen this performance and the magic is still there! Michael Flatley's charisma is strong.

[@philbradshaw7650]

I think he can tap his feet 36 times a second, its in the Guinness book of records, unreal speed

[@bryansproles2879]

This was Michael Flatley - he left Riverdance and created a whole "story" version called "Lord of the Dance". I never saw this one, but it's VERY similar to how Lord of the Dance ends. Here's the LOTD finale, if you want to check it out (but the whole thing is well worth seeing): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJvbhYegf9mLeqM

[@TheDivayenta]

It’s on DVD! The one they did in China is amazing! There’s all kinds of dance in this show!

[@weeardguy]

Yeah, the 'standardized' show is. The original 1995 version like seen in this video, is very hard to get by. It features different performances of songs and dances that were changed slightly in the shows that came after Flatley left. The part from 3:38 (in this video) where Jean dances on her own, is nearly twice as long as in the shows that came after, just like 'Lift the wings' in this show is the version I just like the most because of the singer in this one which just sounds more haunting than all others that came after. This is a (rather bad) recording by someone of the original piece: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raayq2dtiauim6c

[@wysteriaherr8306]

See! White people can dance!😂

[@oregonchick76]

I started giggling to myself because I was thinking about how this take on traditional Irish dancing doesn't require much (or almost any) arm movements, and that's probably because the white people have to concentrate SO HARD on keeping complex rhythm with their feet. LOL

[@simonesmit6708]

@@oregonchick76 Actually the reason Irish dancers don't move their arms is due to being forbidden after they were colonized by the British. It was an attempt to destroy their culture. The Irish just adapted and changed.

[@oregonchick76]

@@simonesmit6708 I had no idea -- I was just making a joke. Thank you for educating me!

[@snow5962]

@@simonesmit6708 Thank you for this. Makes me proud I have Irish in me. It's sad what MRM said, hoping this can still be seen somewhere... I was thinking to myself while watching them, it is truly sad that surely things like this will become a dying trade (possibly in my lifetime); like how the fear for Notre Dame was, that there were certain trades employed in the making of the church that are dead trades now, therefore making it impossible to replicate some things. It is a terribly depressing thing in that these magnificent attributes of western culture are all dying.

[@simonesmit6708]

@@snow5962 I'm not sure you are right. I'm seeing a bit more interest in traditional culture and art. I think how they are expressed will change but the art will live.