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Riverdance

16 avril 1999
02m 15s
Ref. 00268

Information

Summary :

Report on the Riverdance group's dance show, which is currently at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. Excerpts of the show, interviews with the two main dancers, Joanne Doyle and Braendan de Gallai, who speak of the importance for their career of their victory in the Eurovision contest. Today, their show, L'Hymne au Soleil et à la Lune is playing in capitals everywhere. It's a mix of Irish folklore, tapdancing and dances from other cultures, such as flamenco.

Media type :
Vidéo
Broadcast date :
16 avril 1999
Source :
A2 (Collection: JA2 20H )
Personnalité(s) :
Breandan (de) Gallai / Joanne Doyle / Riverdance / Laurence Piquet
Themes :
Places :

Context

The Riverdance show is a traditional Irish ballet bringing together tap, singing and Celtic music. The choreography is characterised by very fast leg movements with the rest of the body relatively unmoving. The thirty or so dancers who make up the show are perfectly synchronised. Created in 1994 to insure an interlude of seven minutes for the Eurovision competition taking place in Dublin,Riverdanceimmediately received public praise, first in the United Kingdom, then very soon in North America and the rest of Europe.Riverdanceis today made up of three troupes who travel the world. The Irish dancers, singers and musicians have added a Russian folklore ballet and a flamenco dancer.Riverdancehas succeeded in winning over more than 20 million spectators.

Claire Libbra

Transcription

Béatrice Schönberg
Entertainment, now, with this superb show at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, Riverdance, which mixes Irish rhythms with tapdancing and contemporary sounds. On stage, singers, dancers and musicians. Laurence Piquet, Bruno Livertout.
Laurence Piquet
A final peek in the dressing room next door. Joanne and Braendan are two star dancers of the show. Their feet hurt a bit: their tap dance shoes have now been torturing them for 5 years.
(Music)
Laurence Piquet
A hundred dancers, musicians and singers on stage. Riverdance celebrates, in separate scenes, the roots of Irish culture.
Braendan Gallal (de)
[Irish] People from most countries often ask us: "Why did you keep Irish dancing a secret?". We haven't kept anything a secret. We didn't know it very well, like Irish music, that's all. For us, of course, the biggest opportunity was the 1994 Eurovision, which was watched by 300 million viewers.
Laurence Piquet
The intermission created for Eurovision lasted 7 minutes. Today, the 2 hour show is performed in all capitals.
(Music)
Laurence Piquet
The hymn to the sun and the moon has conquered 6 million spectators.
(Music)
Joanne Doyle
Irish dancing wasn't fashionable when I was young.
Braendan Gallal (de)
But you know, today, even if we weren't successful and making money,
Joanne Doyle
we'd all still be doing Irish dancing because we're passionate about it. All of the dancers are doing this show because they love it.
Laurence Piquet
A passion that is lived with lots of perfectionism. A successful mix of genres, Irish folklore blends wonderfully with contemporary rhythms.
(Music)
Laurence Piquet
It also mixes well with other cultures, such as flamenco for example.
(Music)
Laurence Piquet
In Riverdance, Ireland waves planet earth's colours way up high. For Braendan and Joanne, it's a beautiful image of peace that Dublin is now displaying.