Londyn Nachtigal’s dance journey started when she was four-years-old at Mattierin School of Irish Dance in Edmonton. After trying a variety of classes, Nachtigal and her sister, Olivia, both fell in love with Irish dance, captivated by the rapid and energetic leg movements.
“It’s a very different dance form that I can’t really compare to anything else,” Nachtigal says.
That passion quickly turned into something more. Nachtigal’s love for Irish dance took her all the way to the 2019 Ladies U19 World Championships, where she won the title. She hasn’t competed since, but her love for the art form never faded.
That same devotion led both sisters to audition for Riverdance — the global Irish dance phenomenon first introduced at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest — earning them roles in the 25th Anniversary Tour in 2020. “For most young Irish dancers, being part of Riverdance is what you dream of doing,” Nachtigal says. “When I first saw the show in person, it was so inspiring to think maybe one day I’d get to be up there.”
But when the pandemic hit, the tour was abruptly cut short and never made it to Edmonton.
In the years that followed, Nachtigal went on to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and now works as a data analyst, balancing her career with occasional returns to the stage. But when she was asked to come back as part of Riverdance‘s 30th anniversary shows in Edmonton alongside her sister, picking up where they left off five years ago, she couldn’t pass it up.
“It’s really special,” Nachtigal says. “I hope to inspire the next generation of dancers from Edmonton, and I’m looking forward to performing in Riverdance in front of friends and family for the first time.”
She describes the Irish dance community in Edmonton as very tight-knit. “You meet a lot of people that you become really close with,” Nachtigal noted. “That gives you the ability to get the extra attention you need to grow.” With several local studios and frequent regional competitions, Edmonton continues to produce talented Irish dancers.
This 30th anniversary is being promoted as the “new generation” tour as many of the dancers involved weren’t even born when Riverdance began. Though there will be new costumes, lighting, set designs and music, Riverdance is staying true to its roots, with the same dances and heart that audiences love. With an eclectic mix of dances — tap, flamenco, dervish folk — Riverdance makes for an entertaining show that is “captivating for a lot of different audiences. It’s a really great show, even if you’re not familiar with Irish dancing.”
See Riverdance in Edmonton at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium June 20 to 22.
