The public wanted more Riverdance, so the producers realeased a video and a single of the track. That was not enough to satisfy the publics demands. RTE suggested they put together a Christmas special. Moya, John, and Bill decided to put together and entire 2 hour stage show instead.

The original goal for getting the show up and running was November. Moya decided that they really didn't know exactly what the show was. They decided to set up a team to come up with the ideas the show would express and how it would be put together.

Bill Whelan began the task of composing the music. He worked long hours everyday and completed it in a short 3 month time period. As soon as the score was written, Mavis Ascott and Michael Flatley began doing choreography and rehearsing with the dancers.

During the thought process, management decided to give the show an International flare instead of making it pure Irish. They scouted talents all around Europe and in the United States. They ended up with a wide variety of performers. Maria Pages - One of the most popular Flameco dancers in Spain. Aine Ui Cheallaigh - Popular Irish singer. The Moiseyev Folk Ballet Company - Folk dancers from Russia. Nikola Parov - Composer from Hungary. James Bignon and the Deliverence Ensemble - Gospel choir from Atlanta, Georgia. Marcel Peneux, Leon Hazelwood, and Jelly Germain - Tap dancers from (I think) New York City.

  The show finally came together and made its premier at the Point Depot Theater in Dublin on February 9, 1995. The show ran for 5 weeks and was completely sold out for every performance. Soon after the first season in Dublin, the show was released on video. This immediately became a top selling video in Ireland.

Demand grew for the show to travel outside Ireland. Promoters from all over the world were tying to book the show. Riverdance management had their sights set on going to London next. They decided to use the Labatts Apollo Hamersmith Theater to present the show in. It is a large, old theater, that had not seen a large show like this in years. The theater wanted the show so bad that they spent over 1 milllion pounds to improve their facitilities to make it more attractive to the company. Obviously the work paid off. Riverdance has not been seen in any other London theater since that time. The show opened in London on June 6, 1995. The show saw a success just as large as its success in Ireland.

The show returned to Dublin in the late summer and again to London from October 3 until January. This London opening also marked the departure of one of the shows lead dancers, Michael Flatley. You can read more about that on a new page that should be ready soon. After London, Riverdance made its way to the entertainment capital of the world, New York City. It played for one week at Radio City Music Hall, the most famous theatre in the world. Closing night was on St. Patrick's Day. While in New York the cast appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, which made the one year old Irish dancing show known throughout the United States.