Search - The Best of Riverdance on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 3/21/2024...

Had its moments but some of the video was grainy while other was crystal clear!

Marilyn J. from HOULTON, ME
Reviewed on 2/16/2023...

This Riverdance video contains what its producers felt were the best performances over many Riverdance performances. Michael Flatley and Jean Butler are featured in many of the segments. I have the Dublin performance on video, but this is a good second place in DVD format.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Best of the Show That Started it All

Gregg Senko | Cleveland, OH USA | 12/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll always be a bigger fan of Lord of the Dance but there's no denying what show started it all. "The Best of Riverdance" was better than I expected and was relieved to see they included footage of Michael Flatley despite the ugly breakup of the star from the show. It was well put-together. Other buyers have complained that the narration by female lead Jean Butler upsets the flow but that's certainly not the case. It's not like she's talking during the numbers. She's there to introduce the clips from the show and provide some background on them. Her part in this dvd is quite necessary. In addition, her behind-the-scenes insight proves to be interesting.



It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the show's inception. This video is a great recollection of how it came about from a 7 minute jaw-dropping performance to a full-fledged touring production."

Disappointing Due To Constant Splicing of Scenes

Paul F. Kostyniuk | 03/19/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"We wanted to own a copy of Riverdance, and foolishly thought that the Best of Riverdance meant that they would pick out the best performance of each number and include that. They did include quite a few of the hits, but instead of showing the one best performance, they had to be "democratic" and include all of the performers, spliced together on the same numbers. So one moment you see girls in pink dresses, then they are in green, then back again. One lead dancer, then another, in a different costume. Also the film quality changes from each performance, so one minute you are seeing what looks like a videotape, the next what looks like a movie. It was jarring, distacting, and annoying.



The only saving graces were that the finale doesn't have the jumping around, spliced business at the end, it includes Davy Spillane's "Caoineadh Chú Chulainn", and the tappers are great.



A shame really, because this could have been a great DVD. We ended up ordering Riverdance - The Show (1995) from Amazon UK, so we could see the show in a smooth, seamless production. We do wish they would make a DVD of the 1995 version. Or re-do this one. We simply can't recommend it."

An Excellent Compilation of Performances!!

C. Dunne | Riverdale, NY United States | 06/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As soon as I saw this DVD listed for sale I bought it. Of course, I had lingering doubts in my mind as to would it be better than the Live From Geneva Recording I already owned, or would it be horrible.

Well, the good news is, I thoroughly enjoy this DVD. It's a must-have for any fan of Riverdance.

One feature I particularily enjoy and am ecstatic about is Jean Butler's narration between scenes. Although I am an English teacher in the Bronx, I also teach a section on Music Appreciation where I try and slip in Riverdance during the dance unit. With Butler's narration they'll have an easier time understanding the story behind the dancing which is an added bonus.

One thing a viewer has to become accustomed to is the fact that during many of the pieces, they switch back and forth between 3-4 different performances. The cuts are seamless, the only thing that makes them noticable is that the older performances were filmed using older means, so when you go from the Geneva performance which is extremly crisp, to the original 1995 performance where there is less quality its distracting. Other than that its terrific and I highly reccomend this DVD to anyone interested in Irish Dance or Riverdance in particular!"