reviewvancouver: Riverdance

Broadway Across Canada

Riverdance

When & Where June 10 - 15, 2025, Evening shows at 7.30pm & matinees Sat & Sun at 2pm | Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton Street, Vancouver Director John McColgan Producer Moya Doherty. Composer Bill Whelan. Tickets from $47. Purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca/riverdance

Reviewer Darren Cordeiro

30 years of Riverdance is a fact and one that hits home, literally. One of my fondest childhood memories is of my late mother taking my siblings and me to see Lord of the Dance and Riverdance at GM Place, now Rogers Arena. Growing up in Chilliwack in the ’80s and ’90s, we didn’t have access to performances of this calibre locally. Seeing a show in the “Big City” was always a special occasion – a way to expand our young minds through exposure to art and culture. As a single parent herself, my mother made sure we had those experiences.

Now, at 42, I had the chance to experience this electric performance once more. This time with my aunt and her sister. It truly felt like coming ‘full circle’, much like the Keltic circle dances performed on stage throughout the evening.

Though produced by Broadway Across Canada, Riverdance is truly a dance performance. It’s not your typical play with dialogue. The storytelling is delivered through vibrant, electrifying dance, stunning music, and solo musical interludes. There’s no need for words. The emotion is conveyed through every movement. It’s mesmerizing.

The visuals were stunning. Cutting-edge 3D animation with moving clouds over Irish landscapes and flickering lamplights in a city setting, it brought downtown Vancouver’s theatre to life with a Celtic flair. You truly felt as if you were in Ireland while sitting in the heart of our West Coast city.The costumes were perfectly matched to each number, sparkling or hued in green to reflect Ireland’s spirit. Every detail was thoughtfully aligned with the music.

Lastly (not Flatley, pun intended), the dancing was literally ‘jaw-dropping’. As I glanced around the audience, I could see everyone transfixed by the rapid-fire footwork. It’s a marvel how they keep such speed and precision. In fact, according to Google, Michael Flatley holds a Guinness World Record for fastest tap dancing at 35 taps per second. This new generation of performers would certainly make him proud.

Riverdance runs until Sunday, June 15. Is it worth the investment? Absolutely. I quite literally tap-danced my way home from the Queen E to my living room. Hopefully, my downstairs neighbors enjoyed the encore of my fancy footwork!