History Theatre / Riverdance

* BadExportForYou : The original Michael Flatley show has seen five numbers cut down for the American VHS release, reducing the show from 95 minutes to some 75 minutes. This includes a flamenco number by Maria Pages, a tap numbers by three African-American dancers, and a flute solo by Flatley himself.

* TheRival / FollowTheLeader: Michael Flatley left the show and created [[Film/LordOfTheDance1997 Lord of the Dance]], and later Film/CelticTiger.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers : Legal troubles between the producers and Michael Flatley meant that we'll probably never see a DVD release of the original show. KeepCirculatingTheTapes may be in effect here.

* LongRunner: Besides the constant toehinf productions, the show has been resident at the Gaiety Theatre from June to September every year since 2007, only missing 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

* InHarmonyWithNature: implied in the first half of the show, with several dances and songs about the elements and seasons

* [[LetsHaveACeilidh Let's Have A Céilí]]: The opening of Act Two. Overlaps with MoodDissonance below.

An animated film inspired by the show, ''WesternAnimation/RiverdanceTheAnimatedAdventure'' was announced in 2020, set to star Creator/PierceBrosnan as a stepdancing Megaloceros. The film was released on May 28, 2021 exclusively on Sky Cinema.

** The 'Heal Their Hearts/Freedom' segment, itself adapted from the original performance of the latter song, was removed in the 25th anniversary version of the show, most likely due to modern sensibilities. Another song, 'Hope to the Suffering', was removed from the show altogether after the original show for possibly similar reasons.

** Flatley's flute solo segment in the original show, 'Whispering Winds', was replaced by 'Slow Air/The Tunes' in later iterations (though 'The Mason's Apron' is still featured as part of the latter).

** 'Home and the Heartland' was removed altogether after the 2002 show.

An animated film inspired by the show, ''WesternAnimation/RiverdanceTheAnimatedAdventure'' was announced in 2020, set to star Creator/PierceBrosnan as a stepdancing Megaloceros.

** 'Ri Rá (Oscail An Doras)', introduced in 1996, was replaced in the 25th anniversary sow with 'Anna Livia'.
** Flatley's flute solo segment in the original show was replaced by 'Slow Air/The Tunes' in later iterations (though 'The Mason's Apron' is still featured as part of the latter).

* AdaptedOut: Various segments from the original 1995 show were eventually scrapped in later incarnations:
** The 'Heal Their Hearts/Freedom' segment, itself adapted from the original performance of the latter song was removed in the 25th anniversary version of the show, most likely due to modern sensibilities. Another song, 'Hope to the Suffering', was removed from the show altogether after the original show.
** The 'Herald to Harlem' segment was replaced in subsequent iterations with the now more notable 'Trading Taps'.
** Flatley's flute solo segment in the original show was replaced by the 'Traditional Set' in later iterations (though 'The Mason's Apron' is still featured as part of the latter).

* ProtestSong: 'Heal Their Hearts/Freedom'

* TheRival / FollowTheLeader: Michael Flatley left the show and created [[Film/LordOfTheDance1997 Lord of the Dance]], and later [[Film/CelticTiger]].

* TheRival / FollowTheLeader: Michael Flatley left the show and created [[Film/LordOfTheDance1997 Lord of the Dance]].

An animated film inspired by the show, ''Riverdance: The Animated Adventure'' was announced in 2020, set to star Creator/PierceBrosnan as a stepdancing Irish Elk.

* MoodDissonance: The opening of the second act, which starts with what appears to be a big festival or celebration. Then it's revealed that many of the people present are about to leave Ireland for good and may never see each other again. It's implied that this is because of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_%28Ireland%29 Great Irish Famine]]

* [[LetsHaveACeilidh Let's Have A Ceili]]: An Irish variant opens Act Two. Overlaps with MoodDissonance below.

''Riverdance'' is an Irish dancing stage show first performed in 1995. It grew out of a 7-minute interval act performed in the 1994 Series/EurovisionSongContest and has become the most famous Irish dancing stage show, to the point where Irish dancing is now sometimes referred to as [[{{Oireland}} Riverdancing]].

* ElementalEmbodiment: arguably both the flamenco dancer in 'Firedance' and the Riverwoman in the title number could be seen as this

''Riverdance'' is an Irish dancing stage show first performed in 1995. It grew out of a 7-minute interval act performed in the 1994 EurovisionSongContest and has become the most famous Irish dancing stage show, to the point where Irish dancing is now sometimes referred to as [[{{Oireland}} Riverdancing]].

* CelticMythology: a major theme in the first half of the show, which includes references to Cu Chulainn, the Countess Cathleen and various other mythological characters and themes

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* UncommonTime: Bill Whelan seems to like this. 'Marta's Dance' is in 15/16 and part of 'Riverdance' alternates between different time signatures almost every bar - which makes it interesting to dance to!