Inside Riverdance’s 30th Anniversary Tour: A Conversation with Principal Dancer Kieran Bryant
- TheColumbusite
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Interview by Carrie Beth Wallace
Images via RiverCenter for the Performing Arts and Riverdance
When Riverdance arrives in Columbus this February, audiences will experience a landmark moment in the show’s history: its 30th Anniversary Tour, featuring a new generation of dancers carrying forward one of the world’s most beloved productions.
Ahead of the company’s February 10 performance at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, The Columbusite spoke with principal dancer Kieran Bryant, who has spent the last decade touring internationally with the production. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bryant comes from a family of dancers and now shares the stage—and the road—with his brother.
In this conversation, Bryant reflects on his journey to Riverdance, life on tour, the discipline behind the performances, and what makes this anniversary production especially meaningful.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your journey to the stage.
A: I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and I started dancing when I was four years old. I like to say I was born into it. I have an older brother and sister who were both dancing before me.
My sister started as a gymnast and got into dance, and her school happened to offer Irish dancing. She won her first competition and kept winning. A few years later, my brother followed the same path. By the time I came along, I didn’t really have a choice—but I loved it. I fell in love with it immediately.
People often ask how a boy from Sydney becomes a principal dancer in Riverdance. My brother was actually in the show for a couple of years before me, and he still is. Touring together has been incredible. Seeing the lifestyle he was living made me realize it was something I wanted, too. I auditioned through the summer school program in my final year of school, and ten years later, I’ve been touring ever since.
Q: And you get to tour with your brother, which is pretty special.
A: It really is. Being on the road can make people homesick, so having someone you’re that close with makes a huge difference. It’s amazing.
Q: What makes this 30th Anniversary Tour special for audiences who may have seen Riverdance before?
A: This is a brand-new production celebrating 30 years of the show. It’s still the Riverdance people know and love, but it’s evolved so much since 1994.
Most of us in the company now weren’t even born when it first premiered, so it really is a new generation carrying on that legacy. We have remastered music, new sets, new costumes, and some classic numbers returning. It’s a fresh take while staying true to its roots.
Q: You’ve toured all over the world. What do you love most about that lifestyle?
A: Seeing different cultures and how people connect to the art form. My first tour was in China, and for many people there, Irish dancing was something they’d never seen before. The reactions were incredible.
In Dublin, at the Gaiety Theatre, the crowds go wild because it’s home. In America, the energy is totally different again. Every country has its own way of responding, and that makes it really special.
Q: Is there a place you especially look forward to visiting?
A: I love touring in the U.S. There are so many different vibes—the East Coast, West Coast, the South, Texas—it’s all very different from Australia. I also love touring in Asia. We were in Japan in 2024 and China last year. But America is always one of my favorites.
Q: What are some lessons you’ve learned about sustaining this lifestyle as a performer?
A: We do seven or eight shows a week, so it’s very demanding physically. Taking care of your body is essential—warming up, cooling down, seeing physios, staying in shape.
Diet is huge, too. If you want to perform at your best, you have to eat well. And mentally, it’s important not to get completely wrapped up in it. You need something outside of the show.
For me, that’s studying interior design. It gives me a mental reset and something to focus on beyond performing.
Q: How do you balance studying while touring?
A: My program is based in Melbourne and fully online, so it’s self-paced. I just work through the assessments when I can. It takes discipline, but it’s worth it.
Q: What do you hope audiences take away from this production? What makes Riverdance a must-see?
A: This is the original Irish dance show. There was nothing like it before. It started as an interval act at Eurovision in 1994 and became a global phenomenon.
But it’s more than just Irish dancing. We’re performers and storytellers. We have American tap dancers, a Dervish folk ensemble, a flamenco dancer, and a live band. There’s something for everyone.
That’s why it’s lasted so long. It connects with so many people in different ways.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like audiences to know before they see the show?
A: People often ask if there’s a storyline, and there is. It’s really a story of love, loss, and discovery.
The first act focuses on the origins of Irish dancing and Irish identity. The second act looks at Irish immigration to America and sharing culture around the world. In the end, it’s about returning home and uniting after experiencing all these different places. That’s what makes Riverdance what it is. I hope you'll come and experience it all with us! ◼️
If You Go:
What: Riverdance 30th Anniversary Tour
When: Tuesday, Feburary 10 at 7:30PM
Where: RiverCenter for the Performing Arts