I SUSPECT I must have been the only one settling down to watch Riverdance with a line from Friends echoing round my head.

“Their legs flail around as if unconnected to their bodies” was Chandler’s explanation as to why the worldwide dance phenomenon left him cold.

And I have to admit that I too had never really understood the draw of Riverdance and why it has entertained audiences for 15 years. I couldn’t see how such a rigid dance style could also be expressive and I thought I would soon tire of seeing a limited repertoire of steps.

But it didn’t take long to convert me. It’s almost impossible to resist the energy and exuberance of this show, with its seemingly never-ending display of toe taps and leg kicks, all performed in record-quick time and with perfect precision.

There was a story, apparently, but it passed me by and I didn’t much care. For me, this was all about dance – in all its forms.

Strobe lighting against a stark black backdrop made for a dramatic thunderstorm scene, performed solely by the male dancers led by the absolutely compelling Joe Moriarty.

A wonderful showcase of tap dancing by Parker Hall and Lee Payne showed real wit and creativity – they even managed to tap out a hip hop beat – and a physical Cossack-style dance included some truly amazing stunts and moves.

But, impressive as each dancer was, they came into their own when together, lined up across the entire length of the stage and performing in perfect unison.

Even Chandler would have loved that.