The hot blonde at the beginning(becomes the centre of the dance and lighting etc .....so clever and the hard hard work was so well together and put paid off in the end lol) 😍😍😍 8yr old me couldn't get enough of this...used to fantasize I was Michael...and even Jean ol !!!
I used to watch this everyday when I was a little girl. I was 3 years old when they brought this on VHS. I used to try and learn the dance haha. I miss the 90s
You and me both. I was recently watching the 96 preformance and the lead has NOTHING on Flatleys presence and flair not to mention his sheer passion. This takes me back to that time I was 5 and just mesmerized by the skill and beauty of dance. Years later and I still am.
I remember watching this for the first time at 5 years old with my dad. He was usually a stoic guy who only spoke when he needed to or felt it was important. But he would talk so much with me while we watched this together. I have fond memories watching all the Michael Flatley Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, etc with him.
Michael Flatley, the man who is fleet of foot! When he makes that entrance with his sleeves billowing in the wind, he isn't just striding onto that stage. He is almost flying!!!
HighFlyingBird82 ahhaha omg 19 years old?! I watched it as a kid, my nana tapped it for me, and then I watched it over and over, practicing with books under my arms. Never made the dream a reality, couldn’t find lessons not the shoes. Or perhaps it was also down to money. No way my parents didn’t think I’d be dedicated enough. I practiced almost daily! Hahah
This is my most favourite part of any Riverdance, ever! This rendition, no others! I have watched it so many times I can play the whole thing in my head off by heart!
Credit where credit is due. Those who criticize Michael Flatley should know that Irish dancing is something that he enjoys so much to the point that he almost had a heart attack. in 1989 he set the world's record of most taps per second (28 taps). In 1998 that record was broken when someone was able to perform 35 taps per second; and that person was: Michael Flatley. During his events he always tells the audience: If you have a dream.... follow it until you see it realized. Other Riverdance shows have dancers and performers that do a superb job, but cannot reach the level Mr. Flatley has. I'm saying this because many have the idea that he has a big ego, which is not true. He remembers the tough times he experience growing up. And if he had mixup or misunderstandings with others .... He is still human...!!! He is The Lord of the Dance.
Brilliant dancer, but with an ego to match. He left Riverdance because his unreasonable demands (complete creative control, more money, etc.) weren't being met.
Gosh so many memories, I was born into an Irish Catholic family (I was 2nd generation), my granddad was a fisherman from the Galway coast and my grandmom was from Belfast, I was 13 or so when Riverdance came out and I was sooo captivated, I bought and learned the sheet music for this entire album on the flute and also tin whistle. So many lovely memories with my mom and her family.
Michael Flatly is amazing! His presence is so powerful when he comes out. I’ve seen different versions of this and his performance is so powerful to me. Love it so much!
my parents introduced me to this when i was very very little. ive loved it ever since. we'd always tap our feet to the rhythm and hum to the melody. this song gives you such a rush!! i just HAVE to smile every time i hear this song.
Honestly the show wasn't the same after Michael Flatley and Jean Butler left the Riverdance. I still have my VHS tape of this show. Bought it after seeing this on my local PBS TV channel.
i was 3yrs old in 1995 but i would sit in front of the tv and stare at them in awe......one reason why i started dancing in general :) by far the best version of riverdance that has ever shown.
I agree, Disneyboy, Jean Butler is pretty hot, as are the other ladies in the troupe And I also agree about Michael Flatley being an amazing choreographer & Dancer This whole troupe has lots of talented people
Sweet michael its hard to imagine i saw your last tour/dancing here,you have brought so much love and admiration into our lives,thank you and may you enjoy what you have planned to do.
I have this show on VHS, and I must've started watching it at least twenty times, but I've never finished it since I always rewind this part and watch it over and over. Pure magic, to say the least.
Brings a tear to my eye with regret that I gave up!! My teacher wouldn't let me have a pair of heavy shoes till I'd passed my exam!!! My dad said I only wanted a pair of these just so I could make a noise!
I agree, his talent is something else lol. And I admit, his amazing dancing has indeed touched my life and is mostly the reason I love Irish dance. Respect :) x
Je suis allé voir leur spectacle avec ma famille ❤et plusieurs fois avec des amis toujours merveilleux je félicite tout ces artistes pour ce travail que je n’ose imaginer 😅 Merci 🙏 et encore 🙏
i was only 8 when i first saw this and have been in love ever since, michael influenced me to become a tap dancer myself, I love riverdance and everything Michael Flatley ever did, it's no wonder they call him the "Million dollar dancer," lol
@imjunipernow A lot of practice, they run through the dance so much some of it becomes muscle memory. I remember when I used to dance the steps would run through my head like the words to a song and I'd sing it to myself while I performed. Once I learned the "song" I could do the dance with or without music. I still remember bits and pieces and I haven't danced in over 6 years. But you learn that steps, you repeat the steps a million times, and when it's time to perform you just know the dance.
I agree. This is my favorite version as well. I love the look of the dancer at :41, and the wonderful boom crane shot up and the, down again as they dance the reel. Wonderful!
This was and still is one of my favorite shows to watch. I use to watch this all the time as a child, and I for the life of me can't find my VHS tape to watch it. T-T I'm so glad I found it here on youtube at least.
This used to drive my grandmother potty!! She couldn't stand the constant sound of tap shoes and the speed of it, at the age of 6 I couldn't get enough of it!! Joined an Irish dance academy and quit for a stupid reason, just because I was the oldest in the group
I completely agree with you that Michael Flatley and Jean Butler had the best version of Riverdance. The video was better, the dancing was so much better! No one could top Flatley.
Yes, she did. That is where I got the comment the cast did not like working with him. She gave an interview years later in which she stated that he thought "Riverdance" was Michael Flatley and that their working relationship developed into an on stage relationship. In other words, they did not speak except when necessary. They did not like each other, apparently.
He is amazing. The move he does at about 3:14 is so adorable. I've watched other leads do this same dance and none of them are as good as he is or do the awesome moves he does. :P
Amazing...fair play for putting it on RUclips....think this is the greatest of all the dancing productions since the initial 1994 Riverdance segment. Lord of the Dance was too flashy while Riverdance minus Flatley was never the same. Here it's just raw, pure dance with super music.
AMEN!... They took something PERFECT and changed it! You're lucky if you own this on VHS... And I would counsel to convert it to DVD or a hard drive before it wares out or breaks. As far as I know this is not available for sale on DVD... (Love him or hate him, none of the others can touch Michael Flatley.
thats exactly what happened with me-luckily i just bought it on amazon today so that i can relive some of those memories-my grandmother and i kinda made a tradition of watching it every time she would babysit when my parents went out
I gotta say, this incarnation of the River dance troupe is the best one in my opinion every one of them are amazing dancers and the ladies of the troupe are very attractive, especially Jean Butler
yyeesss as did i! i think i still have it somewhere!! my sister bought it for me for christmas YEARS ago.. i now need to find it, a vcr and get it crackin. riverdance for life ♥
Michael Flatley is definitely my fave main male dancer of Riverdance. The others I have seen don't have the energy or flamboyancy that he has. GO MICHAEL!!!
I drove my parents insane with how much I watched this video when I was little and I think thats why I can't it today. So I'm glad this was put on youtube! thanks!
I had this on DVD here in the UK, but as I no longer have the DVD, I cannot give the title on the side of the box that it came in. Sorry about that lack of important info. All I can remember was that it was more than one show/programme, like those shown here on bank holidays on some digital television channels.
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGGGGGGGGGGG, i have been searching for this all day long ad when i was a kid i was like watching it 10 times per day!!!! omg dude I LOVE YOU MAN!
Man, I can't believe this was done 14 years ago! I remember when it was brand-new, on PBS. I feel old, lol. And I think this the first run of "Riverdance" was the best. "Lord of the Dance" was flashier, but it didn't have the innocence or whatever this show had.
THANKS for posting marlan51 ...and I'm TOTAL AGREEMENT ...none of the derivatives can touch the ORIGINAL! Too bad they didn't make this a DVD. One can always hope!
John Kerry You're probably, right my friend, but it's the public at large that bares the brunt of the feud between the two sides. I sure hope and pray they lay their contentions aside; kiss and make-up and realize the ART TRANSCENDS the bitterness ... Cause the art is a GIFT from GOD! ~Every good gift and every perfect gift is from ABOVE and cometh down from the Father of LIGHT with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.~ ...reconciliation's a GOOD thing! And one must forgive to be forgiven! Amen?!?
I love this! It takes me back to a time in my life that was beautiful and simple. Like a lot of people, not all, but a lot, I thought Michael Flatley was a twat, having seen him in interviews and such, but when Lord of the Dance came to Australia, for those couple of hours, I fell in love! We were two rows back from the stage, and Michael Flatley held me captive from his first tap until his last. Absolutely amazing!!!!
I never get tired of this number. It's like the "Stairway to Heaven" of Irish step dancing. It just can't be topped.
The hot blonde at the beginning(becomes the centre of the dance and lighting etc .....so clever and the hard hard work was so well together and put paid off in the end lol) 😍😍😍 8yr old me couldn't get enough of this...used to fantasize I was Michael...and even Jean ol !!!
I used to watch this everyday when I was a little girl. I was 3 years old when they brought this on VHS. I used to try and learn the dance haha. I miss the 90s
You and me both. I was recently watching the 96 preformance and the lead has NOTHING on Flatleys presence and flair not to mention his sheer passion. This takes me back to that time I was 5 and just mesmerized by the skill and beauty of dance. Years later and I still am.
I remember watching this for the first time at 5 years old with my dad. He was usually a stoic guy who only spoke when he needed to or felt it was important. But he would talk so much with me while we watched this together. I have fond memories watching all the Michael Flatley Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, etc with him.
Same here. Same age
You have good taste.
Michael Flatley, the man who is fleet of foot! When he makes that entrance with his sleeves billowing in the wind, he isn't just striding onto that stage. He is almost flying!!!
Yeah, cocaine will do that for you.
This has been and always will be my childhood on VHS...
+Lord Ostrik Holy crap, me too. I was so happy to find this on RUclips.
OMG! Same!
No joke, I was just about to put that.
ME TO! OMG!
Amen my g!
I remember seeing this back in 1995. Had a seat near the band and the noise off those shoes was a lot more than you think. Absolutely stunning. 👏👏👏👏👏
i dont see arrogance in flatley, i see extreme discipline and passion and talent
I know the clip is 19 years old, and i've seen this a zillion times, but.........WOW!!!!
Little things like this makes you so proud being Irish!
HighFlyingBird82 ahhaha omg 19 years old?! I watched it as a kid, my nana tapped it for me, and then I watched it over and over, practicing with books under my arms.
Never made the dream a reality, couldn’t find lessons not the shoes. Or perhaps it was also down to money.
No way my parents didn’t think I’d be dedicated enough.
I practiced almost daily! Hahah
IM DANICH
The Pointe Theater where the Eurovision Song Contest was held and the first look at the show Riverdance..with Flatley and Jean Butler.
Michael Flately is amazing! ...now I want to prance and skip around the living room like i did when i was 5 years old (first time i saw this)
Dreamavere I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who did that!
Mate! I feel you!
So did I!!! This is ingrained in my childhood!
This is my most favourite part of any Riverdance, ever! This rendition, no others! I have watched it so many times I can play the whole thing in my head off by heart!
So glad to see so many other saying this was also their childhood on VHS
Credit where credit is due. Those who criticize Michael Flatley should know that Irish dancing is something that he enjoys so much to the point that he almost had a heart attack.
in 1989 he set the world's record of most taps per second (28 taps). In 1998 that record was broken when someone was able to perform 35 taps per second; and that person was: Michael Flatley.
During his events he always tells the audience: If you have a dream.... follow it until you see it realized. Other Riverdance shows have dancers and performers that do a superb job, but cannot reach the level Mr. Flatley has.
I'm saying this because many have the idea that he has a big ego, which is not true. He remembers the tough times he experience growing up. And if he had mixup or misunderstandings with others .... He is still human...!!!
He is The Lord of the Dance.
Total respect, and no shit. Irish.
Brilliant dancer, but with an ego to match. He left Riverdance because his unreasonable demands (complete creative control, more money, etc.) weren't being met.
@trha2222 100% Agree
Regardless of his ego, he was still the best dancer. You need not only skill, but presence and charisma which he all had and the others lacked.
Terpsichord is proud of him.
I love this opening. Gave me chills when I first saw it 20+ years ago. Still does.
Gosh so many memories, I was born into an Irish Catholic family (I was 2nd generation), my granddad was a fisherman from the Galway coast and my grandmom was from Belfast, I was 13 or so when Riverdance came out and I was sooo captivated, I bought and learned the sheet music for this entire album on the flute and also tin whistle. So many lovely memories with my mom and her family.
There was a DVD of the '95 tour with "Lord of the pants" before his ego forced him to leave the group. It was sold on PBS as a fundraiser item.
Gotta say. That girl at the front dead centre_ absolutely stunning. Fantastic dancing. Still gives me chills to this day
Her name is Areleen Ni Bhaoill. She also went on to dance in the original productions of Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.
Michael Flatly is amazing! His presence is so powerful when he comes out. I’ve seen different versions of this and his performance is so powerful to me. Love it so much!
Had this on VHS growing up and watched it constantly! Oh the nostalgia!
I remember when this was a hot ticket. It's astounding seeing Flatley move all over that stage with consistent energy and it exhausts me. Fantastic.
What a man I wish he was still dancing
Micheal and jean so young and fresh faced..two Irish American dancers who brought a new wave of dancing to the world no one will top Flatley ever
my parents introduced me to this when i was very very little. ive loved it ever since. we'd always tap our feet to the rhythm and hum to the melody. this song gives you such a rush!! i just HAVE to smile every time i hear this song.
I was 8 when I first saw a video of this and was enchanted by Flatley and the music. Good memories.
Honestly the show wasn't the same after Michael Flatley and Jean Butler left the Riverdance. I still have my VHS tape of this show. Bought it after seeing this on my local PBS TV channel.
Anyone else used to VHS watch this and claims it as your childhood 2020 MY PEEPS! XD
The best dance in the WORLD. Not only dance, but a strong culture. When the "world" will become smart... all people will dance... river dance.
I absolutely love Riverdance! It must take so much talent to do that and I wish I could dance like this. Not to mention the music is spectacular.
wow thats amazing..the guy in the white shirt is hawwwt tho ;) haha
Michael Flatley! He basically created this :) and he's really amazing. This is back in like 1995! :)
oh wow..so hes probs all old and wrinkly now...
Lol not sure maybe
Eh a little but still kinda hot
No one quite flies out of that stage entrance like Flatley does!
i was 3yrs old in 1995 but i would sit in front of the tv and stare at them in awe......one reason why i started dancing in general :) by far the best version of riverdance that has ever shown.
I agree. I will always appreciate his talent and hard work, but I would not want to be his best friend.
25 years!! Omg gracious
Michael Flatley's mullet is majestic.
I agree, Disneyboy, Jean Butler is pretty hot, as are the other ladies in the troupe
And I also agree about Michael Flatley being an amazing choreographer & Dancer
This whole troupe has lots of talented people
Irelan is proud of her son Micheal Flatley!
Sweet michael its hard to imagine i saw your last tour/dancing here,you have brought so much love and admiration into our lives,thank you and may you enjoy what you have planned to do.
this never stops blowing my mind, I LOVE THIS NOW AND FOREVER
I agree. Michael just had a certain charm about him and was so handsome.
My friends and I used to recreate this dance in my living room at my sleepovers in 5th grade lol...the memories.....
Christy Clements
I have this show on VHS, and I must've started watching it at least twenty times, but I've never finished it since I always rewind this part and watch it over and over. Pure magic, to say the least.
Amazing number
Brings a tear to my eye with regret that I gave up!! My teacher wouldn't let me have a pair of heavy shoes till I'd passed my exam!!! My dad said I only wanted a pair of these just so I could make a noise!
I agree, his talent is something else lol. And I admit, his amazing dancing has indeed touched my life and is mostly the reason I love Irish dance. Respect :) x
Je suis allé voir leur spectacle avec ma famille ❤et plusieurs fois avec des amis toujours merveilleux je félicite tout ces artistes pour ce travail que je n’ose imaginer 😅
Merci 🙏 et encore 🙏
i was only 8 when i first saw this and have been in love ever since, michael influenced me to become a tap dancer myself, I love riverdance and everything Michael Flatley ever did, it's no wonder they call him the "Million dollar dancer," lol
i seen this like a hundred times & each time I am blown away...!
@imjunipernow A lot of practice, they run through the dance so much some of it becomes muscle memory. I remember when I used to dance the steps would run through my head like the words to a song and I'd sing it to myself while I performed. Once I learned the "song" I could do the dance with or without music. I still remember bits and pieces and I haven't danced in over 6 years. But you learn that steps, you repeat the steps a million times, and when it's time to perform you just know the dance.
I wish, Michael would be 30 years again ;)
I agree. This is my favorite version as well. I love the look of the dancer at :41, and the wonderful boom crane shot up and the, down again as they dance the reel. Wonderful!
If you're feet do not move hearing this music, you're either dead or a stone.
This was and still is one of my favorite shows to watch. I use to watch this all the time as a child, and I for the life of me can't find my VHS tape to watch it. T-T I'm so glad I found it here on youtube at least.
This used to drive my grandmother potty!! She couldn't stand the constant sound of tap shoes and the speed of it, at the age of 6 I couldn't get enough of it!! Joined an Irish dance academy and quit for a stupid reason, just because I was the oldest in the group
This tickles my bones triumphantly in many incomprehensible ways.
A huge thanks to Micheal Flatley for these shows.
Seeing this wen i was a child feels so good inside becuz this is a true documany of michael flatley as i remember he would be 😌
I completely agree with you that Michael Flatley and Jean Butler had the best version of Riverdance. The video was better, the dancing was so much better! No one could top Flatley.
Yes, she did. That is where I got the comment the cast did not like working with him. She gave an interview years later in which she stated that he thought "Riverdance" was Michael Flatley and that their working relationship developed into an on stage relationship. In other words, they did not speak except when necessary. They did not like each other, apparently.
He is amazing. The move he does at about 3:14 is so adorable. I've watched other leads do this same dance and none of them are as good as he is or do the awesome moves he does. :P
So right, none could match Michael with this piece and a Riverdance. The original and the best.
Yes exactly! HAHAHAHAHAA!
EXACTLY!!!
@@SpookyElectric319 I don’t know, I’ve been known to give it a good go after a bottle of Jack Daniels
Amazing...fair play for putting it on RUclips....think this is the greatest of all the dancing productions since the initial 1994 Riverdance segment. Lord of the Dance was too flashy while Riverdance minus Flatley was never the same. Here it's just raw, pure dance with super music.
Couldn't agree more
Agreed! Flatley is very energetic and charismatic when he dances but his look and music needs to be tamed by taste. Lol. He is still the best though!
I tapped to this in my dance recital! It was soooo good!!! We got a standing ovation😃
THE ORIGINAL AND STILL THE BEST
vincent wilson A
Ditto!
I agree.
AMEN!... They took something PERFECT and changed it!
You're lucky if you own this on VHS... And I would counsel to convert it to DVD or a hard drive before it wares out or breaks. As far as I know this is not available for sale on DVD... (Love him or hate him, none of the others can touch Michael Flatley.
thats exactly what happened with me-luckily i just bought it on amazon today so that i can relive some of those memories-my grandmother and i kinda made a tradition of watching it every time she would babysit when my parents went out
oh my god this is amazing !!! these dancers are something unique...too bad that they are not always appreciated for their work.
It is Awesome!
Yep. Going to see the farewell tour in April.
I gotta say, this incarnation of the River dance troupe is the best one in my opinion
every one of them are amazing dancers
and the ladies of the troupe are very attractive, especially Jean Butler
Amazingly VHS 📼 performance in 1995 for Riverdance.
yyeesss as did i! i think i still have it somewhere!! my sister bought it for me for christmas YEARS ago.. i now need to find it, a vcr and get it crackin. riverdance for life ♥
When all the little girls were watching Aladdin and Cinderella, i was watching this. I love it so much.
I so wish I could have seen this live back in the day! Thanks for uploading this brilliant performance! :)
praying for micheal flatley ...stay strong buddy xxx
That moment at 3:33 still gives me goosebumps, still after 22+ years from the first time I saw it.
True, and to bad, too. They are both very talented people.
When I was 6 my nana showed me Riverdance on VHS and I had the biggest crush on Michael Flatley and so badly wanted to be one of those dancers 😅
Michael Flatley is definitely my fave main male dancer of Riverdance. The others I have seen don't have the energy or flamboyancy that he has. GO MICHAEL!!!
I never heard this music until Jason Brown skated to it. His enthusiasm and energy just made this music that much better.
In elementary school, our music teacher made us watch this every single year.
I drove my parents insane with how much I watched this video when I was little and I think thats why I can't it today. So I'm glad this was put on youtube! thanks!
I had this on DVD here in the UK, but as I no longer have the DVD, I cannot give the title on the side of the box that it came in. Sorry about that lack of important info.
All I can remember was that it was more than one show/programme, like those shown here on bank holidays on some digital television channels.
One of the greatest things I have ever seen when he comes out but its the Irish music that makes it.
love when he comes flouncing in in his big white puffy shirt! great music & dancing
I'm glad there are people who realize that. A great dancer, yes. A great person, no.
This version of the show is the absolute best! Used to have it on vhs!
Оргазм 😍😍😍😍
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGGGGGGGGGGG, i have been searching for this all day long ad when i was a kid i was like watching it 10 times per day!!!! omg dude I LOVE YOU MAN!
You can tell that he (Michael Flatley) really loved what he did; he looks so happy. =)
wish i was this fit and skilled!
THANK YOU! I watched this on VHS as a child ALL the time!!!
I was there on there opening night in London. Fabulous
flatley's face always says "good GOD i'm awesome"
I saw Riverdance in 1997. What an amazing expirence that was
true, i have to admit i'm not a big fan of flatley myself. but he sure is talented and no one dance as amazing as flatley does :D
Man, I can't believe this was done 14 years ago! I remember when it was brand-new, on PBS. I feel old, lol.
And I think this the first run of "Riverdance" was the best. "Lord of the Dance" was flashier, but it didn't have the innocence or whatever this show had.
Best performance of this by far!
THANKS for posting marlan51 ...and I'm TOTAL AGREEMENT ...none of the derivatives can touch the ORIGINAL! Too bad they didn't make this a DVD. One can always hope!
+Henry Murphy Given that Flatley left on none to good terms I daresay we are unlikely to see a DVD release of the original.
John Kerry You're probably, right my friend, but it's the public at large that bares the brunt of the feud between the two sides. I sure hope and pray they lay their contentions aside; kiss and make-up and realize the ART TRANSCENDS the bitterness ... Cause the art is a GIFT from GOD!
~Every good gift and every perfect gift is from ABOVE and cometh down from the Father of LIGHT with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.~
...reconciliation's a GOOD thing! And one must forgive to be forgiven! Amen?!?
I love this! It takes me back to a time in my life that was beautiful and simple.
Like a lot of people, not all, but a lot, I thought Michael Flatley was a twat, having seen him in interviews and such, but when Lord of the Dance came to Australia, for those couple of hours, I fell in love! We were two rows back from the stage, and Michael Flatley held me captive from his first tap until his last. Absolutely amazing!!!!
That's what I miss about being a child, the simplicity, the innocence.
I'm 28 btw, so I was 7 when I first watched this :)
Me and my brothers see it on VHS since we were children
Yes. The best version of all. Let's hope for a Blu-Ray version. My VHS tape too can't resist any longer...
Ego, or not. I wouldn't mind being trained by Flatley. The man is clearly a perfectionist in his craft, and that is rare to find now a days.
This is Like. a dance recital/PerForMance 0f a CuLt!!! guESS it is in a way!!!