'Riverdance - The Gathering' Festival Launched to Mark Year of the Gathering

Up to 5000 Irish Dance Fans and Performers around the world are invited to Riverdance - The Gathering, a seven day festival, taking place in July, to mark the Gathering Ireland 2013. This unique festival will celebrate the magic and international appeal of Irish dancing and will provide overseas visitors with an opportunity to be a part of the global Riverdance phenomenon. To date over 23 million people worldwide have seen Riverdance live in over 350 cities and the organisers hope that the unique festival schedule will bring some of those to Ireland for 2013.

The seven day festival programme includes:
Riverdance -The Gathering Master class Series, July 15th -July 19th50 of the best and brightest young Irish dancers from Ireland will participate in a week-long series of Master classes with some of Riverdance's most experienced and talented performers. At least 25 of the places on the series will be reserved for dancers from abroad, and applications close on Friday 26 April so don't delay. For more information on how to apply for a place on the Series visit Riverdance.com. All of these Master class participants will automatically go forward to Riverdance's annual global audition in Dublin on Friday 19th July.

Riverdance - The Gathering at the Park, Merrion Square, Saturday 20th JulyOn Saturday July 20th, Merrion Square will provide the backdrop for an afternoon and early evening of FREE Riverdance Festivities. Riverdance professionals will provide informal instruction for aspiring dancers of any ability in a festival environment complete with face painting, bouncing castles, costume making, arts & crafts and food and refreshments.

Riverdance Gathering Céilí will allow revellers to put their earlier instruction to the test in a massive outdoor Céilí on Merrion Square West led by Riverdance's finest dancers and musicians.

Riverdance -The Gathering Longest Line: a World Record Breaking Attempt, Sunday 21st July, Dublin
Riverdance- The Gathering will attempt to break the world record for the longest Riverdance line, currently standing at 652 dancers and set in Nashville Tennessee. Riverdance - The Gathering is inviting dancers from all over the world to come to Ireland and be part of this unique experience. Dancing to the music of Riverdance, the line will dance down by the banks of the Liffey, running across Sean O'Casey Bridge, down along Sir John Rogerson's Quay, crossing the river again at Beckett Bridge and returning back up along Dublin's Custom House to re-join the line at Sean O'Casey Bridge.

Riverdance -The Gathering at the Gaiety, Sunday 21st July, Gaiety Theatre
This summer, Riverdance celebrates its tenth consecutive season in the Gaiety Theatre and the two shows scheduled for Sunday July 21st will be set aside as two special Gathering performances with guest performers and speakers to bring the week of events to a fitting close.

CompetitionFor your chance to win a trip to Ireland for a one-to-one hour long personal masterclass with Padraic Moyles, lead dancer with Riverdance, a backstage tour where you'll meet the Riverdance cast and VIP tickets to one of their special Gathering Riverdance shows on Sunday 21st July, enter the Riverdance- The Gathering Facebook competition.

Riverdance Director, John McColgan said, "Through music and dance, Riverdance tells the story of the emigrant's departure from Ireland, striking-out into a new world overseas all the while keeping their Irish heritage and traditions alive. This is a beautifully poetic fit with the central themes of the Gathering so we're delighted to celebrate it with this very special Riverdance - The Gathering programme"."There are a number of elements to this Gathering; from breaking world records to intensive tutorials in the art of Riverdance, but central to the whole event is that people from across the world who have long associated Riverdance with Ireland can come to Ireland as dancers, as families as spectators and experience Riverdance at home among the culture and people that inspired it".

Jim Miley, Project Director of The Gathering Ireland said "This Gathering is a once in lifetime opportunity for Irish dance fans and performers to be part of the Riverdance phenomenon in Ireland, its spiritual home. We are delighted to have this unique Gathering event on the calendar for 2013. We are determined to make Riverdance -The Gathering a successful and enjoyable event and will be promoting it to overseas audiences. We would encourage people in Ireland to let their overseas contacts know about this unique Gathering event. If you know someone overseas who is interested in Riverdance in particular or in Irish dance or music generally, invite them to Ireland for this special Gathering."

Click here for further information on 'Riverdance -The Gathering' including how to participate in Riverdance-The Gathering Longest Line or applications for the Riverdance-The Gathering Master class Series.