Irish Dance Showcase

When I think of Irish Dance today I think of Jean Butler.

Jean is the Grande Dame of Irish dancing, her stunning performances have made an international phenomenon out of the formerly niche cultural dance.

At the age of 17, on St. Patrick's Day, she debuted with The Chieftains, a successful relationship which lasted several years, touring extensively throughout America, Canada, Europe and Japan. Jean appeared on their video 'The Chieftains - Live From Belfast,' with Roger Daltry and Nanci Griffith and her taps can also be heard on their album, 'The Long Black Veil' with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones.

Whilst studying drama at the University of Birmingham, Jean received an invitation from producers Moya Doherty and John McColgan to star in a ten-minute stage production called "Riverdance" and, as they say, the rest is history.

In 1996 after performing for Popes, Presidents, Kings and Queens, Jean left Riverdance to pursue other solo projects. In 1999 she teamed up with Colin Dunne, who had replaced Michael Flatley in "Riverdance", and together launched a show called 'Dancing on Dangerous Ground'. Choreographed with Dunne the show was based on the ancient Irish myth of Diarmuid and Grainnea tale of love, death and vengeance.

Dangerous Ground has an element not usually associated with the world of Irish dance - sex.