The Riverdance group has packed up and left their previous performance venue in Wisconsin. I spoke with principal dancer James Greenan about the 20th anniversary of the show and his experiences on tour.
CK: Let’s start by chatting about your childhood in London. Did you have always have a passion for dancing?
JG: My parents are from Ireland originally. They moved to London and started a family. They wanted to give my sisters and me a piece of our heritage, so we started Irish dancing young. As a child, I also enjoyed playing soccer.
CK: How many dance disciplines have you studied?
JG:Irish dancing is my primary style of dance. As I’ve grown, I’ve touched on contemporary and lyrical styles.
CK: Take me through your audition process?
JG: I competed in Irish dance through the age of 18. At that time, dancers usually decide if they want to go to college or start auditioning for shows. For Riverdance, we are asked to email an audition video to the company. If they like you they invite you to join, but dancers often wait a year for a cast opening.
CK: Riverdance has traveled around the world. Tell me some of your favorite theaters to perform in?
JG: Dublin, Ireland was great fun. I also enjoyed Hawaii and Vienna. Buenos Aries is probably my favorite, because of the rich culture there.
CK: This is a big anniversary year for Riverdance. How has the show changed and what exciting things can fans expect to see?
JG: Riverdance is still authentic to the original. The story is the same. We’ve modernized it a bit with LED lighting, updated costumes and new choreography. The audience will definitely be engaged.
CK: How do you stay energized for the show? Any pre or post show rituals?
JG: We always have a group warm up. Traveling to new theaters, we need to line-out and mark our rotations on the new stage. We don’t have many rituals, but our stretching is very important.
CK: How long did it take to learn the choreography?
JG: It takes two weeks of rehearsals to learn all the choreography. The training is intense. We have specialists with us to help us maintain our fitness and nutrition as well.
CK: Dance takes a heavy toll on the body. Have you ever sustained big injuries?
JG: I have no injuries, but six months of Riverdance does take a toll on the body. At times our bodies feel a bit run down.
CK: Can you tell me your wardrobe for the show? Do you have many quick changes?
JG: The girls have a lot of quick changes, many more that the guys. We are excited to have our wardrobe designed by famous costume designer Joan Bergin.
CK: The show has really brought the Irish culture / community to so many all over the world. Have you noticed an increase of Irish Dance popularity?
JG: Irish dance is quite new compared to other dance disciplines. Ballet has been around for centuries. Irish dance was always big at home, but on a wider scale, it’s growing fast.
CK: You’ve been touring for a few years now. How long will you be on tour and what is next for you?
JG: I hope to tour at least one more year, it’s hard to say. Afterwards, I'd like to become certified as a personal trainer.
