A show from the producers of Riverdance has been performed in the UK for the first time.
Heartbeat of Home, a follow-up to the hit Irish dance show, opened at the London Palladium on Friday night.
The music and dance extravaganza features performers from around the world, many of whom have starred in Riverdance, and showcases a mix of traditional Irish, Latin, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban and contemporary styles.
Heartbeat of Home was created by Riverdance producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan in 2013, and has already been performed in Dublin, North America, China and Germany.
Speaking after the UK premiere at the Palladium, McColgan, the show’s director, said: “I was thrilled with the reaction, really thrilled, this is probably one of the best reactions we ever got.”
He said it was “always a dream” for him, adding: “To create a show and bring it to the London Palladium, and get the response we got tonight and the full standing ovation, is a lifetime ambition, and I had a tear in my eye at the end I think.
“It was a moving experience for me.”
McColgan said they wanted to give fans something that had the same feel as Riverdance but was also “fresh and invigorating”.
Heartbeat of Home is being staged at the Palladium for a three-show run, and McColgan said they were in talks about future tours.
Riverdance will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020.