Samantha Felling Bio:

I grew up in the Kirkwood/Des Peres area of St. Louis and attended Whitfield High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Business from Saint Louis University. After graduating, I spent two years working in sales and marketing in the corporate world. I genuinely enjoyed my job, but deep down, I knew there was more I wanted to do with dance. Touring professionally had always been a dream of mine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I didn’t go for it now, I might never get the chance.

In the summer of 2022, I decided to take that leap and auditioned for Riverdance at the Riverdance Summer School in Boston and Dublin. Being accepted into the company was an absolute dream come true – I couldn’t believe it. I joined the U.S. tour in 2023, performing across North America, and later had the opportunity to dance with Riverdance in Europe and the UK. One of the most surreal moments of my career was performing at iconic venues like Radio City Music Hall in NYC. In 2024, I had the honor of returning to the Riverdance Summer School as an instructor - an incredible full-circle moment.

My husband, Oli Gething, is also in Riverdance and has toured extensively with the company. We got married in October 2024 in St. Louis at Silver Oaks Chateau and had a few fellow Riverdance friends attend. We even put on a little performance at the reception!

My Irish dance journey began at the age of six, thanks to my friend’s mom, Patty Darrah, who was an Irish dance teacher at a local studio. Around that same time, I saw Riverdance at The Fox Theatre, and from the moment the music started and the dancers took the stage, I was completely hooked. The energy, the music, dancing, and the storytelling ignited something in me, and even at that young age, I knew I wanted to be up on that stage one day.

Neither of my parents, Chris and Sue, grew up knowing much about Irish dance, though they have some Irish ancestry. When I started dancing, it was a whole new world for them. They took it one step at a time, not realizing how quickly it would become such a major part of our lives. I began competing locally and eventually internationally, traveling across the country and beyond. My mom and I spent so much time on the road together for competitions, and those experiences became some of our most cherished bonding moments.

I continued competing throughout college while training with The Clark Academy of Irish Dance under Mary Jo Cange, who was also a former Riverdance cast member. (I can’t wait to find her name on the wall in The Fox Theatre!)

Touring the world as a professional dancer has been one of the most incredible and life-changing experiences. I’m so grateful to the creatives, cast, and crew who have been part of Riverdance over the past 30 years for giving Irish dancers the opportunity to turn our passion into a career. Now, getting to perform in my hometown at The Fox Theatre is beyond special. Sharing this moment with my family, friends, and the community that has supported me throughout my journey is something I’ll never forget. I hope to inspire any young dancers in the audience to chase their own dreams.

Judi Diamond

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