The Big Ask with Jason O'Neill: 'The streets of Belfast became my stage when pandemic hit'
In this week's interview we talk to Riverdance lead Jason O'Neill (35) who hails from Greenisland. When the globally acclaimed show was put on hold due to the pandemic, Jason began captivating audiences online with his dance videos captured in Belfast city centre
A I grew up in Greenisland, close to Carrickfergus. I come from a family of nine - there was my dad, my mum and six sisters. I was the second youngest and the only boy.
My sisters were all dancers, so by the time it got to me it was expected that I would join Irish dancing too. I fell in love with it, I had such passion for it and pursued it. At one point all six of danced - our house was full of music and Irish culture.
My sisters all quit, I continued and now I have been dancing for 30 years. It was just a pastime, I played football and did speech and drama, but I fell in love with dancing. It just took a hold of my heart and became my biggest passion.
Q What are you most proud of?
A Getting the lead in Riverdance is my biggest achievement. I was so proud because when I was younger, I was the only boy in my school, family, and probably in my town, who danced. There was a bit of adversity because I was different.
It was a dream of mine to join Riverdance and that dream was realised. I'm now the longest-serving lead in the show; I have been doing it for nine years.
The fact I even got in to Riverdance in the first place, and from that moment I climbed the ladder to the top; it's just a dream come true.
I have been all over the world, I have danced in every continent and in 250 cities. I started off on a UK and Europe tour and from there I went to America. I have done 49 states in America, the only one I have not been to is Alaska. I was in China, Japan… and all these wonderful places, and all just from a childhood hobby.
A When I was younger my dream was to move to New York and become an artist there. My regret has been a burning fire in my belly, to perform or do something in New York City, as I felt like it was the hub for all artists.
I regret not living there, but I suppose I have been there now with Riverdance, so things have come full circle.
Q What about phobias. Do you have any?
A I don't have any phobias but I do have a fear of time passing too quickly. I don't like when time moves too fast.
Q The temptation you cannot resist?
A Sweet stuff like pick and mix and childhood sweets. I still love them even though I am a grown man - I haven't really grown up to be honest (laughs).
Q Your number one prized possession?
A My dad's Claddagh ring that he used to wear. I have it on a chain and before every show I used to take it off and look at it.
I felt if it was close to me, then I had an extra person with me and a bit of support.
Q The book that's most impacted your life?
A The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. We read it in school when I was 10 and I have read it multiple times since.
I love the whole idea of magic, transformation and courage - they are really adult themes that are told through a children's novel.
The book really drew me in when I was younger and still does.
Q If you had the power or authority, what would you do?
A I would afford everyone the opportunity to learn and be educated, fed and sheltered.
Q What makes your blood boil every time without fail?
A Bad table manners; people chewing their food loudly.
Q Who has most influenced you in life?
A Probably my sisters; growing up in a house with six girls, there were so much energy and so many different personalities in the same place. We were all nurtured the same but see life in a completely different way. I was inspired by their outlook in life.
Q Your top three dinner party guests, dead or alive, and why?
A Number one - Gene Kelly because he was such a powerful dancer and a really masculine dancer, so enigmatic, and I loved watching his movies.
Number two would be Steven Spielberg because I love his eye; the way he captures and tells stories. That's what I have been trying to do with my movies - tell stories.
Number three - J.K. Rowling because she wrote Harry Potter and I was captivated by it when I was younger and I still am. I love how she reached out to an audience of such scale, of kids and adults, and again that's what I'm trying to do with my little videos.
When I had to return home from New York last March due to the pandemic, I felt very deflated, it felt as if my career was over and I didn't know when it was coming back. So I thought I would take my dancing to the streets and make Belfast my stage and backdrop.
Because we were all locked down, I thought it was a great way to tell stories and talk about things like mental health, equality and feeling different, and all of these deeper messages, told through dance in the streets of Belfast.
I plan to continue these videos as I still have plenty I want to say, and I want to show the potential of the artform that I have been training in my whole life. People need positivity because it's such a difficult time, people feel low and lonely and I hope I can bring a little bit of joy into people's lives.
Q The best piece of advice you've ever received?
A Live for the moment, live for the here and now. My mum and dad used to say, 'Embrace every opportunity with both hands'.
Q The unlikely interest or hobby that you love?
A I have so many: I love playing the bodhran which is an Irish drum; swimming in the ocean; going bodyboarding in Donegal and all these amazing places in the Wild Atlantic Way; drawing and illustrating.
Q The poem that touches your heart?
A He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W.B. Yeats. It's a beautiful poem about giving gifts to the people who you love, it's also about loss and loving the people who you love.
Q The happiest moment of your life?
A Opening Radio City Music Hall in New York for Riverdance, the 25th Anniversary Show. I was the opening principal dancer in one of the biggest theatres in the world; I had been working for it - without even realising it - my whole life.
I had the VHS of Riverdance when I was a boy and I have watched it to death, and part of it was the cast performing in Radio City for the first time in 1996. To fast-forward all these years later when I was opening for the 25th Anniversary Show, as the principal dancer, in New York - that was probably my happiest moment.
Q And the saddest?
A When my dad passed away in 2015. He had leukemia and he suffered with that for two or three years. At the same time, I was travelling and coming home and I felt like I never knew what was going on. It was a really difficult time.
I loved my dad obviously, but I didn't realise just how important he was in our family, because he was quite quiet, but then when he was gone I realised he was the glue that held everything together.
That was the saddest moment and trying to piece back my life.
Q The one event that made a difference in your life?
A I studied graphic design and I had the opportunity to work in that area, and at the same time I was asked to go to Riverdance in Dublin for three weeks.
I couldn't decide what to do, so I chose to go down to Dublin and do the three weeks. I didn't know anything beyond that, and from those three weeks I got offered the lead and it turned into a 10-year career.
At that moment I was at the fork in the road and could go left or right. I suppose I chose the unconventional road and luckily it has worked out for me.
Q What's the ambition that keeps driving you forward?
A I'm passionate about dancing, Irish culture, spreading dance and telling stories. My ambition is to be creative, to be an artist and to inspire the younger generation to carry on this art form.
A Embrace every opportunity and live for the moment. You should always see the light in something and be positive.
You know the essence of childhood, when you see things in a really open-minded way and you are excited by things and adventurous - if you carry that into adulthood, I think that will drive you in a successful way, no matter what you put your mind to.
Q How do you want to be remembered?
A I'm not planning on going anywhere just yet (laughs).
As someone who is a family man, a creative, as someone who likes to make people laugh, and as a loving caring person, and someone who inspired people.
Jason's videos can be viewed on Instagram @Jasocean
