Twenty years ago, the most important seven minutes in Irish dancing history took place.
It was Eurovision, an annual time for Brits to sit down to a Tetley's in front of the telly and the rest of Europe to lounge back with vino and vol-au-vents.
As presenter Gerry Ryan stepped up to announce the interval, clad in the snazzy lemon drop blazer and polo neck look the 90s couldn’t leave behind fast enough, no one could have predicted what would happen next.
"Before we get down to the real business of the evening; the voting," Gerry announced, “I would like to introduce to you an exciting and uniquely Irish performance, specially commissioned for tonight’s show...ladies and gentlemen, Riverdance.”
Whatever the real business of the evening was meant to contain was forgotten.
As the comfortable voice of Eurovision veteran Terry Wogan would rumble, the "small hairs are rising on the back of every Irishman's neck".
Caught up in an Irish whirl of haunting vocals, fast footwork and perfect timing, 'Riverdance’ drummed its way into viewers’ hearts and became an overnight sensation.
Two decades on and the beat is still going strong.
"It was revolutionary," said Julian Erskine, Senior Executive Producer of Riverdance.
“It was something that hadn't really been seen outside Ireland or even in Ireland. Putting it honestly, it was a competitive amateur hobby, practised by groups in parts of the country - then Riverdance completely blasted onto the scene.”
Like every other Eurovision viewer sat glued to their screens that night, Erskine was hooked.
Three months later he joined them and set out on what he, and they, had no idea would go on to become a global phenomenon.
"I came in to do the stage show in August 1994," said Erskine, in his soft Irish brogue.
“There was a team put together after Eurovision and we all thought we were simply going to do a few weeks in Dublin and then get on with our lives,” he adds with a laugh.
That was 25 million audience members ago. Today, Riverdance is counted as one of the most successful stage shows of all time and has traversed the globe several times over.
“It's an extraordinary tribute to the music and choreography that it has been transmitted all over the world,” said Erskine fondly.
“The first time we played in America in 1996, there were just so many stars in the audience and it just went through the roof. When we launched in London we sold tickets for standing room only for over a year because the house was full.”
Even so, Erskine still remembers the good old early days of the show – days when paper was in greater abundance.
"You must remember that when Riverdance started the internet was only just arriving," said Erskine. “We didn't have email. I still have the original contact list for the cast and it only has about three mobile numbers on it.
“I remember in the earliest days we were having a complicated discussion as to whose computer would get the internet,” he adds with a chuckle.
This year, Riverdance marks its 20th year with one massive party.
The whole world has been invited to the celebration, as the Riverdance tour brings back the emerald magic to fans everywhere.
On November 4, they arrive in Edinburgh to perform on The Playhouse stage and fans in the city are more than ready to welcome them.
"When I was five, I used to put Riverdance on the television in my living room and pretend I was on stage - I made my brother take part and put him in a dress, pushing him on stage when Michael Flatley's part came on," admits Charlotte Sloan, 22, who takes classes with Edinburgh Irish dance academy Siamsoir.
“It’s just amazing fun and a great way to keep fit.”
"The opening nights are always incredible," said Erskine. “I remember when we opened in Mexico in front of 11,000 people – it's incredible every time.
“Even now, we never know what will happen until the final curtain goes down at the end. In China and Japan, audiences are very reserved during the show but they go crazy afterwards.
“We love coming to Scotland though,” insists Erskine. “There’s the undeniable Celtic connections between us, plus I have my own personal connection of course - I have the Erskine kilt at home that comes out at Burns Night and special occasions.
“I’m sort of a closet Scottish person,” he adds proudly.
After their birthday tour, there's no sign of a let up for the Riverdance crew though, as the show’s calendar remains booked out well into 2016.
"Could we go for another 20 years? Personally I don’t know because I don’t know if I’ve got another 20 years left in me," jokes Erskine.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey and each time we think it will be the last and final year, the bookings fly in and we’re off again.
“There is no end sight at the moment for us. After all, it would be hard for any of us to imagine a life without Riverdance, wouldn't it?”
Photographer: Jack Hartin
-First published on STV on Friday 17 October 2014
