Alberta dancer taps into dream role as ‘Riverdance’ returns to Calgary

The 30th anniversary tour of the global Irish dance sensation lands in Calgary with a homegrown star on stage.

When Riverdance returns to Calgary this week, one of the dancers will be performing just hours from where she grew up.

Olivia Nachtigal, a 23-year-old from Edmonton, is a principal dancer in the 30th anniversary tour of Riverdance – The New Generation. She’s been Irish dancing since she was three, but says joining Riverdance is the dream she’s chased for most of her life.

“I remember seeing the show when I was about 10, here in Calgary,” she says. “Even then I thought — that’s what I want to do next.”

Now, after years of competition and training, including a stint at the Riverdance summer school in Boston, Nachtigal is living that dream — bringing the iconic show full circle, back to Alberta.

She’s just wrapped five shows in Edmonton, where family and friends packed the house. Now, the tour ends in Calgary, with five performances at the Jubilee Auditorium from June 27 to 29.

For Nachtigal, there’s no better place to take her final bow.

“It’s amazing to finish here,” she says. “It’s a bit of a tease being home without much downtime, but having everyone come see me dance — it’s the best kind of support.”

Riverdance – The New Generation stays true to its roots: the choreography is mostly unchanged since its Eurovision debut in 1994. But the 30th anniversary tour also brings new energy, modern visuals, and a cast of performers who weren’t even born when the show began.

“There’s a lot of fresh faces, and that brings a whole new energy to the stage,” says Nachtigal. “It’s still classic Riverdance, just with a new heartbeat.”

The production features a full troupe of Irish dancers, plus flamenco, tap, and Moldovan folk styles. A live band and choir travel with the cast, creating an international spectacle that fills the stage with rhythm and fire.

“It really is a show for everyone,” says Nachtigal. “Even after five months on tour, I still get goosebumps.”

Riverdance 30 – The New Generation plays the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium ON Friday, June 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be found here.