'Being on the road was my time to cry, to share and be open with myself' lead dancer Jason O'Neill on his Riverdance journey

When Jason O'Neill put his college education first, he was worried that he had missed his chance with Riverdance and he admits that he suffered depression and anxiety as a result, 'thinking I was missing out on these incredible tours'.

But the day he got his graduation certificate he also got offered the lead on the show.

'It was a surreal day and I’ve never looked back,' he tells Darren Casey on this week's episode of Riverdance: the podcast. 'I ran from my graduation to grab the bus to Dublin to rejoin the show.'

Jason also opens up about what dancing means to him and how he coped with family crises whilst on the road.

"Dancing has always been an escape for me, an escape from family, schoolwork, myself," he says. "As the only boy with six sisters, I wasn’t a talker and being on the road was my time to cry, to share and be open with myself."

And with Riverdance back in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Darren also goes backstage to take you through the rehearsals and preparations for its 13 week summer run.

For more from Riverdance: the podcast, go to www.riverdance.com

What is Riverdance the Podcast?

Experience Riverdance as never before as they go on a world tour from China to North America and back to their hometown in Dublin.

Hear from the dancers, choreographers and dance captains, the musicians and producers. Join the Riverdance team with exclusive behind-the-scenes access as well as the unique and the unexpected from the cast’s dancer diaries.

This is Riverdance the podcast. Produced by LastCastMedia.com