'It's so surreal to dance in Riverdance' - 30 years of the hit production

It's more than 30 years since Michael Flatley and Jean Butler burst onto the stage during the interval of the Eurovision Song Contest.

That modern take on Irish dancing, Riverdance, went on to become one of the most successful touring stage shows in the world.

Now it's marking its 30th anniversary, with a new production and a new cast of dancers - many from Northern Ireland - taking the show on the road.

For 18-year-old dancer, Caitlyn Murray from Armagh, being in the most famous Irish dancing show in the world is "surreal" and something she could never have imagined as a child.

It has been performed in more than 30 countries across the world in three decades and Riverdance 30 brings together a new generation of performers, refreshing the original production for modern audiences.

For Caitlyn and other young dancers in the cast taking part in the anniversary show is both physically demanding and personally significant.

"It's a massive production. Physically it can be quite demanding, but when you're doing what you love, you don't mind," she told BBC News NI.

Caitlyn said the energy from the audience is a key part of the experience and adds to the atmosphere on stage.

"There's a magic in it," she said.

"It's really exciting to get to perform so close to home."

For Youcef Belouazani, 20, from west Belfast, Riverdance has been part of his life ever since childhood.

"When I was younger I would watch it on tape," he said.

"My granny and granda had it. It would be something I'd watch in the living room and jump around to," he added.

Now performing in the show himself, he said the experience is difficult to describe.

"Everyone who's watched it, whether they're dancers or not, have always said how magical it is," he said.

The man who was there at the very beginning said there are many secrets to its long-time success.

Original director John McColgan said that success lies in its ability to connect with audiences across different cultures and generations.

"There's no language barrier," he explained.

John created Riverdance alongside his wife and producer, Moya Doherty and composer Bill Whelan.

He said the anniversary production introduced changes while staying true to the original spirit of the show.

"We have new costumes, new choreography," he said.

"So we do whatever we can to freshen it without taking away from the original substance."

Although John was closely involved in the early years of the production, he said his role has evolved over time, he now has the luxury of a full creative team behind him who help with planning.

"I was very involved in a hands on way in the beginning, but I'm fortunate now to have a team of people handling the logistics," he said.

John said performing in Riverdance remains a major ambition within the Irish dancing world, with aspiring dancers knowing every step before they enter the audition room.

"They're very aware that if you're in the world of Irish dancing, your goal is to get into Riverdance," he said.

Speaking about working with performers who are younger than the show itself, he added: "They are wonderful young people."

Reflecting on the show's longevity, John said its continued success was never something he expected.

"You would have been foolish to say 30 years because there are very few shows in the world that have toured for that long.

"We're very lucky."

Riverdance 30 is currently at Belfast's SSE Arena.