About a year into Irish dance, she became very serious with it and quit the soccer and baseball teams. You might say Anna Mai Fitzpatrick’s role as a lead dancer in the U.S. touring company of Riverdance was preordained. Butler has appeared in several films: The Brylcreem Boys, Goldfish Memory, The Revengers Tragedy and Old Friends. RIVERDANCE OFFICIAL PAGE www.riverdance.com [3], In 1994, under the invitation of producer Moya Doherty, she performed in a seven-minute intermission piece at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 entitled Riverdance. tour continues through 2020 for dates and cities, visit Riverdance [5] In 2009, she received the "Outstanding Contribution to Arts & Culture Alumni Award" from the University of Limerick.[7]. Cancellation of Gaiety Theatre 2020 shows. Riverdance national tour ends at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre on February 9, 2020 for tickets, call 800.775.2000 or visit Broadway In Chicago. So, I left. She appears in five of the anniversary tour’s 18 scenes. Meet Siobhán Manson, lead dancer with "Riverdance" (VIDEO) Siobhán Manson began dancing at the age of 4 in her hometown of Galway with the world-renowned Hession School. Padraic has been with Riverdance for 23 years. [2] Jean and her sister Cara won numerous national titles and regional titles, and placed well in international competitions. She eventually quit both. Featuring a new story and new music by Whelan, it follows an Irish boy named Keegan and a Spanish girl named Moya on a journey into a mythical world where they learn to appreciate Riverdance as a celebration of life. Romance is blossoming for Riverdance’s principal dancers, Natasia Petracic and Bobby Hodges. IrishCentral Staff Writers We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This documentary follows her intense physical and mental preparations both at her family home outside Castlederg and in Dublin, where the cast come together for two weeks of gruelling rehearsals before the show opens. The collection was launched at Showcase Ireland at the RDS later that month. See more ideas about riverdance, irish step dancers, irish dance. Oct 26, 2015 - Riverdance 20th Anniversary Tour. For each of the three female leads – Natasia Petracic from Australia, Meadhbh Kennedy from Ireland and Amy-Mae – being chosen to be the principal dancer on this special night would mean everything. LIMA — The global phenomenon “Riverdance” will once again return to Veterans Memorial Civic Center this weekend, this time celebrating its 25th anniversary. After a long and extremely successful run with the show, Butler eventually left Riverdance in January 1997. Watch this special message from Amy-Mae Dolan, the lead female dancer for the Riverdance 25th Anniversary Tour. Butler attended Hofstra University and earned an Honours Degree in Theatre and Drama from the University of Birmingham. I was too young." Nov 12, 2015 - The latest Tweets from Riverdance (@Riverdance). American dancer, choreographer and actress, Riverdance and Dancing on Dangerous Ground, Irish Central, "2020 Irish America Hall of Fame inductees announced" January 26, 2020, "Dangerous Dancing An Interview with Jean Butler", "Riverprancer; Jean Butler lifts the lid on life with Riverdance co-star Michael Flatley", "Dancing on Dangerous Ground, Irish Dancer Jean Butler", "Ms Jean Butler 2009 Recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Arts & Culture Alumni Award", "Irish Dance Masterclass DVD with Jean Butler", "Jean Butler's Masterclass DVD, Jean Butler at the Celtic Cafe", 'Riverdance' star Jean Butler hangs up her Irish dancing shoes for soft pumps, Riverprancer; Jean Butler lifts the lid on life with Riverdance co-star Michael Flatley, An Comhdháil na Múinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean_Butler&oldid=997431737, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 13:38. On 21 July 2013, a record was set when a line of 1,693 dancers from 44 countries danced to Riverdance on a bridge overlooking the River Liffey, led by Jean Butler and Padraic Moyles. The decision lies with Riverdance co-founder John McColgan – who will he choose to step into the spotlight and be part of the show’s legacy? In 2001 she married Irish designer Cuan Hanly. A dancer stage left coughs during the final run through of the show, but nobody around him bats an eyelash. Jean Butler was born in Mineola, New York. Amy-Mae Dolan from County Tyrone is one of three female leads in contention for the coveted starring role on the gala night, which will be filmed for international cinema release. As a lead dancer, Fitzpatrick is one of three performers given special attention during the show. She is best known for originating the principal female role in the Irish dance theatrical production Riverdance. Animated film. Dancer Anna Mai Fitzpatrick The recording is supplemented, in performance, by seven onstage musicians. Jean Butler is an American stepdancer, a master of Irish Dance, choreographer, and actress. On 9th February 2020 AmyMae and male lead Bobby Hodges danced to a sold out 3 Arena in Dublin exactly 25 years on from the first performance of Riverdance. “The Original...The Best” Riverdance is a celebration of Irish dance, music and culture' 'Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show' begins touring January 2020. After Flatley abruptly left the show over creative control disputes in October 1995, Butler was joined by long-time friend Colin Dunne. Copyright: Abhann Productions Photographer: Jack Hartin Given the athletic nature of the dancing, many cast … Nov 12, 2015 - The latest Tweets from Riverdance (@Riverdance). AmyMae became Riverdance's youngest ever lead dancer in 2017 when she first performed the lead role aged 19. Anna Mai Fitzpatrick, a lead dancer with "Riverdance," says that it was the joy of watching the production's performances on television as a young child that led her to a life of dance. [10] With Colin Dunne and George Hook she is a judge on the Raidió Teilifís Éireann reality series Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels. Butler has performed with Green Fields of America and Cherish the Ladies. She premiered "Does She Take Sugar?" The pair were the lead dancers at the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City that was filmed and put on DVD. Michael Ryan Flatley (born July 16, 1958) is an Irish-American dancer, choreographer, and musician. She is best known for originating the principal female role in the Irish dance theatrical production Riverdance. Marking 25 years since its first production, the film Riverdance: The Animated Adventure was announced for late 2020. In January 2020 it was announced she is a member of the Irish America Hall of Fame, an honor presented by Irish America magazine.[1]. With Brandon Asazawa, Ellen Bonner, Belle Brenton, Kieran Bryant. She has also auditioned for large-budget Hollywood films such as, Meet Joe Black with Brad Pitt, and The Postman with Kevin Costner. In 2005 she released an instructional DVD, Irish Dance Masterclass With Jean Butler,[8] which her sister also participated in,[9] and completed a master's degree in Contemporary Dance Performance from the University of Limerick. [6] From 2003 to 2005, Butler was Artist In Residence at the University of Limerick's Irish World Music Centre. She began Irish dance lessons at the age of six, which she quit promptly. A few years back, the Irish dancing community was dealt a series of devastating losses. on April 12, 2007, at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin. And when the big night finally arrives, will Amy-Mae fulfil her ambition of being the female lead in a performance the world of Irish dance will never forget. She received a commission from the Irish Arts Council to create a solo work in 2004. “The Original...The Best” Riverdance is a celebration of Irish dance, music and culture' 'Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show' begins touring January 2020. She tried Irish dance again at age nine, this time with a different dance teacher, Donald Golden, whom she considers to be one of the most influential people in her life. In January 2011, it was announced that she had designed and released her own jewellery line. From a young age, she competed in regional, national and international championships. Riverdance is returning to Southampton from 14 – 18 September 2021. As Riverdance prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special gala performance at Dublin’s 3Arena, its cast of Irish dancers from all over the world are locked in intense rehearsals. The show toured throughout 1995. PADRAIC MOYLES Riverdance Associate Director, Brand Manager and Summer School Course Director. A powerful and stirring reinvention of the show, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning music and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. [12][13] Jean Butler (born March 14, 1971) is an American stepdancer, a master of Irish Dance, choreographer, and actress. Directed by Chris Hunt. Have you booked your tickets yet? This amazing world champion dancer (who's currently single!) She has a sister, Cara. When Anna Mai was 3, her mother Sharon saw Riverdance on television in one of the show’s earlier incarnations and signed her up for Irish dance lessons in her local primary school. 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