About Lord of the Dance

Lord of the Dance is a musical production that tells the story of ancient Irish folklore through Irish step-dancing and music. Created, directed, produced and choreographed by Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance features Flatley and a company of dancers that captivate audiences with their quick movements and precision footwork.

Creator

Flatley grew up in Chicago, the son of Irish immigrants. He began dancing at age 11 and won every Irish dance competition he entered in the United States and Ireland.

Origin

Building on the popularity and success of Riverdance, Flatley conceived and designed Lord of the Dance as a musical extravaganza that could be performed in large arenas and stadiums as well as theaters.

The Story

Lord of the Dance tells of mythical powers of love and danger through a tale of good versus evil. It follows Little Spirit's attempts to keep the Dark Lord from harming the Lord of the Dance.

Significance

Lord of the Dance gave Flatley the creative control he wanted but did not have with Riverdance. Blending traditional and contemporary dance styles, Flatley enhanced the production with high tech lighting, sound and pyrotechnics.

Performances

Lord of the Dance premiered in 1996 in Dublin, Ireland. Touring companies have performed all over the world, including Australia, New York, Chile, Sweden, Germany, Taiwan and Las Vegas.

References

• Lord of the Dance