Even though Maggie Darlington was just five years old in 1995 when “Riverdance” debuted, she had already been stepdancing for two years at that point. The California native got her start, following her older sisters’ lead enrolling in Irish step dancing with the Claddagh Dance Company.
“I really followed my big sisters’ footsteps getting started, but what really helped me in my senior year of high school was when I did a school musical,” Darlington said in a recent phone interview. “That’s when I thought this could be really fun.”
After winning four North American Championships, two All-Ireland Championships, and the World Irish Dancing Championship, she then went on to become the lead dancer in “Celtic Fyre” at Busch Gardens.
“I joined in the summer and at the time, it was a new show,” she said. “It was exciting for me because I had decided at that point that I wanted to perform professionally in some way.”
From there, Darlington joined “Riverdance” in 2011 and became a lead dancer in 2014. She still remembers where she was the day she received that unforgettable call.
“I was living in New York at the time and was in an Italian wine bar,” she said. “It was the perfect place to celebrate. I grew up with ‘Riverdance’ being such a sensation. Most people my age started dancing because they saw it. I remember being so proud that people wanted to do it. It was so exciting to see.”
Eleven years later, even as a principal dancer, Darlington admits she occasionally still gets stage fright.
“The nerves are always there, especially if I have been off for a long time,” she said. “Some days I feel great and others not so much, but you just have to roll with it and figure it out.”
Darlington says she is grateful for the opportunity to join the cast of “Riverdance” to not only travel the world but also form lifelong friendships.
“There are so many places I have gotten to travel to which has been amazing,” she said. “It has also been incredible to make these relationships with people who love the same thing as you. We all share a common passion for music and dancing.”
As “Riverdance” prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday, February 9 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Darlington says attendees can expect to see a few new things.
“The show features the same original magic, but they’ve given new life to make it more current,” she said. “I hope the audience is moved and will feel some sort of joy and pride because everyone needs a little bit of joy in life.”
Darlington said she is not surprised it has become such a worldwide sensation.
“There’s something about the music rooted in culture that just resonates with people,” she said. “It’s a grounded show and people just love the dancing. It appeals to every age group and is very family oriented.”
For tickets or more information, visit www.riverdance.com/tours/usa/. There will be four performances at the Kravis Center being held February 7-9, 2025.
