Riverdance is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. As of 2025, the show continues to tour the world.

Riverdance is rooted in a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance. The suite was composed, recorded and performed for the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, which was held in Ireland. At the time, Bill Whelan and Dónal Lunny composed the music, augmenting the Irish folk band Planxty with a rock rhythm section of electric bass and drums and a four-piece horn section. The piece was performed, with accompanying dancers from Dublin City Ballet, during the interval of the contest, and later released as a Planxty single. Whelan had also produced EastWind, a 1992 album by Planxty member Andy Irvine with Davy Spillane, which fused Irish and Balkan folk music and influenced the genesis of "Riverdance". After composing "Riverdance", Whelan said, "It was no mistake of mine to call it Riverdance because it connected absolutely to Timedance".

Riverdance was first performed during the seven-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 30 April 1994. The performance was transmitted to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide and earned a standing ovation. The performance is often considered the most well-known interval act in Eurovision history and is credited with transforming Irish dance from a chaste and reserved traditional dance form into a new, modern form. The original seven-minute version was invited to perform at Dominion Theatre in London at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Prince Charles in November 1994.

The song "Riverdance", featuring Anúna and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, was released as a single and subsequently topped the Irish Singles Chart for a record-setting 18 weeks. As of 2010, it was still the second highest-selling single of all time in Ireland, behind only Elton John's 1997 double A-side "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight".

After witnessing the initial enthusiasm for the interval act performance in Ireland, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty invested over $1 million into producing a full-length show. Tickets for the show were released for a five-week run and sold out within three days of going on sale.

"Riverdance: The Show" opened at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 9 February 1995. The show starred lead dancers Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. The video of the show topped the Irish and UK charts in 1995.

The show moved to London in June 1995, where it had a sell-out four-week run at The Apollo. During its time in London, Riverdance performed at the Royal Gala 50th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations at the invitation of Prince Charles and at the Royal College of Music in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II.

The show returned to the Point Theatre in July 1995 for a sell-out six-week run.