Sunday 21 st August saw a truly extraordinary Riverdance show take place in a Community Centre in Dublin. Dreamt up by Riverdance drummer Ray Fean and spurred on by Senior Executive Producer Julian Erskine, Riverdance cast and crew and staff gave their free time to help the Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre celebrate its 4 th year.
The Dublin Gospel Choir came on board with their big sound and infectious rhythm, Riverdance musicians played their own tunes while dancers flowed with energy and Bill Whelan bopped away in the front row with Dublin’s Lord Mayor and everyone declared the night a great success.
A queue forms outside the Ballyfermot Community Civic CentreSome of the Riverdance crew – Willie Mannion, Kevin McGing and Brendan McLoughlinA local Irish Dance group began proceedings with some lively numbersThe Riverdance show opens with ThunderstormThe Band in full swing (left to right) David Downes, Eoghan O Neill, Des Moore, Ray Fean (in background), John O’Brien, Robert Geraghty, Zoe ConwayYolanda Gonzales Sobrado and the male troupe follow with FiredanceThe Dublin Gospel Choir sang ‘Oh Happy Days’ and ‘Rain Down’Padraic Moyles and Zara Curtis in Riverdance brought the 1 st half to a very exciting closeAine Rooney in American WakeIan McGlynn and Fiona Wight sing Lift the Wings
Michael Samuels and the Dublin Gospel Choir sing Freedom/Heal Their HeartsTrading Taps with Scott Porter, Lee Payne and Padraic MoylesZoe Conway plays Slow Air and TunesRay Fean gets serious with that bodhran!Naoise Stuart Kelly leads the Dublin Gospel Choir in Home and the HeartlandZara Curtis and Padraic Moyles lead the troupe in HeartlandThe Riverdance choir and Dublin Gospel Choir sing Let Freedom Ring, written by Bill Whelan for Riverdance On BroadwayA very happy audience on their feet applauding the performersRiverdance singers Fiona Wight, Mark Fennell, Michael Samuels and Naoise Stuart Kelly and Dublin Gospel Choir Singers with Choir Master Cathal Synnott at RTE Radio studios to help publicise the event on RTE Radio One’s Rattlebag programme