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Lord of the Dance (musical)
Encyclopedia
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
musical and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
production that was created, choreographed, and produced by Irish-American dancer
Irish dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...
Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
, who also took a starring role. The music for the show was written by Ronan Hardiman
Ronan Hardiman
Ronan Hardiman is an Irish composer, famous for his soundtracks to Michael Flatley's dance shows Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger Live.-Biography:...
.
Background
Michael Flatley found his first fame starring in RiverdanceRiverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
, but he left the show in 1995 before its debut in London after a disagreement over creative control. He dreamed of putting together a dance show capable of playing in arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
s and stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
s instead of traditional theatres. He soon began thinking of rhythm patterns and steps for an a cappella number. This number would later become "Planet Ireland", the show's finale. The show took six months to bring it from conception to the stage. Auditions were held in the SFX City Theatre
SFX City Theatre, Dublin
City Theatre Dublin is a theatre in Dublin, Ireland, founded in 1984. It is currently just a producing company that puts on over 300 shows each year in over 50 venues around the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
in Dublin.
Performances
Lord of the Dance had preview shows at the Point TheatrePoint Theatre
The Point Theatre was a concert and events venue in Ireland, that ran from 1988–2007, enjoyed by in excess of 2 million people. It was located on the North Wall Quay of the River Liffey, amongst the Dublin Docklands...
in Dublin from June 28 to July 1, 1996. The show staged a premiere performance on June 27th 1996 - the video was filmed on July 2, 1996. The story follows the character "Lord of the Dance" and his fight against the evil dark lord "Don Dorcha" from taking over Planet Ireland. The "Lord of the Dance" defeats the dark lord's invasion with help from a little spirit. There is also a story with a "love vs lust" theme expressed through dance throughout the show. "Saoirse, the Irish Cailín" fights for the love of the "Lord of the Dance" against the wicked "Morrighan, the Temptress". The stories are based on ancient Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
and some Biblical references; the title itself, along with the central musical theme, is taken from a contemporary hymn
Lord of the Dance (hymn)
Lord of the Dance is a hymn with words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1967. He adapted the tune from the American Shaker song "Simple Gifts"...
.
In March 1997, Lord of the Dance was performed at the Oscars. That November, Lord of the Dance expanded operations by forming several troupes of dancers which would tour North America and Europe. Flatley signed a contract with Disney for Lord of the Dance to perform at Epcot
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
in Walt Disney World in the summer of 1999 and Lord of the Dance was asked back the following summer in 2000. Troupe 4 performed at the Disneyland Paris Resort in 2002 and 2003. There are currently two troupes of Lord of the Dance productions touring the world. Troupe 1; currently touring throughout Europe, whilst Troupe 2 is resident in the US.
Feet of Flames
On July 25, 1998 after two years of touring, Flatley created Feet of FlamesFeet of Flames
Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames is an Irish dance show directed by Michael Flatley and scored by Ronan Hardiman.-Feet of Flames:Hyde Park:Feet of Flames was created in 1998 by dancer Michael Flatley, made famous by the musical Riverdance...
, an expanded version of Lord of the Dance. Feet of Flames took the dancers from all the troupes and put them together, totalling almost 100. The final stage was 180 feet (54.9 m) wide with multiple levels. The show was held before 25,000 people in London's Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
. The special feature was a dance solo by Flatley without music. It was supposed to be the last time Flatley danced live on stage, but a different version of the show would later go on tour in 2000–01 (only one troupe appeared on this tour). The show in Hyde Park was the last time Michael Flatley danced in "Lord of the Dance", he would go on to do the Feet of Flames World Tour, and after that Celtic Tiger. The Lord of the Dance 10th Anniversary Party was held in June 2006.
Lord of the Dance today
Lord of the Dance still has two troupes on tour. Troupe 1 tours Europe and Asia, while troupe 2 tours North and South America. Michael Flatley, meanwhile, is still the creator, producer and director of the production.Lord of the Dance recently played in Las Vegas at the Steve Wyrick Theatre. Dancers from Troupe One and Two merged together during this period.
In December 2009, a troupe played in Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.
In April 2010 Michael Flatley announced that he would be returning to headline the Lord of the Dance show, in five performances in Ireland, three at in Dublin and two at The Odyssey Arena in Belfast in November 2010, the first time he will have done so since 1998.
In mid-March 2011, there was a limited theatrical screening of Lord of the Dance 3D. The film shows the performances from The O2 of Dublin and The O2 of London. A DVD of the show was released on June 28 in U.S. and Canada, on August 4 in Australia, September 12, 2011 in the U.K. and South Africa, and on October in Scandinavia, Beneloux, France, and Germany.
Lead dancers
Over the years, along with several troupes, the lead dancers have changed.Original characters (1996 show)
- Lord of The Dance: Michael FlatleyMichael FlatleyMichael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
- Saoirse, the Irish Cailín: Bernadette FlynnBernadette FlynnBernadette Mary Flynn is an Irish dancer best known for her work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames....
- Morrighan the Temptress: Gillian NorrisGillian NorrisGillian Norris is an Irish dancer and model best known for her work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames....
- Don Dorcha: Daire NolanDaire NolanDaire Nolan is an Irish dancer and choreographer best known for his work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames....
- The Little Spirit: Helen Egan
- Fiddlers: Máiréad NesbittMáiréad NesbittMáiréad Nesbitt is a Classical and Celtic music performer, most notably as a fiddler and violinist. She is currently the fiddler for the group Celtic Woman.- Background :...
and Cora Smyth - Erin the Goddess: Anne Buckley
Bernadette Flynn is still touring with the show. Gillian Norris left the show in early 2000. Daire Nolan left the show shortly after its first run in Epcot
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
in 1999. Nesbitt is now with the Celtic band Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
. Smyth is touring with Flatley in Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger Live
Celtic Tiger Live or more often known "Michael Flatley's Celtic Tiger" or just "Celtic Tiger" was an Irish Dance show.-History:Michael Flatley, famous for his Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames shows, created Celtic Tiger. After being retired for 4 years, Michael announced he was going to tour...
. Buckley has left the show and has made her own solo album.
Show acts
Act 1- Cry of the Celts
- Suil a Ruin
- Celtic Dream
- The Warriors
- Gypsy
- Strings of Fire
- Breakout
- Warlords
- The Lord of the Dance
Act 2
- Spirit of the New World
- Fiery Nights
- The Lament
- Siamsa
- Our Wedding Day
- Stolen Kiss
- Nightmare
- The Duel
- Victory
- Planet Ireland
Tour dates
Michael Flatley starred in the show from 1996 to early 1998 before going on to Feet of FlamesFeet of Flames
Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames is an Irish dance show directed by Michael Flatley and scored by Ronan Hardiman.-Feet of Flames:Hyde Park:Feet of Flames was created in 1998 by dancer Michael Flatley, made famous by the musical Riverdance...
.
This incomplete list includes Troupe 1, Troupe 2, Troupe 3, and Troupe 4.
1996 - with Michael Flatley
June 28 to December 30: Ireland premiere, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand
1997 - with Michael Flatley
January 3 to November 27: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia
1998
January 11 to December 10: England, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Austria, France, Norway.
1999
January 9 to December 19: Israel, Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Portugal.
2000
January 26 to December 16: Japan, South Africa, France, United States, Germany, Argentina.
2001
January 21 to December 22: Germany, France, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, England, the Netherlands, Japan, Russia, Estonia, Belgium.
2002
February 16 to December 31: France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Lebanon, England, Finland, Russia, Ukraine,
2003
January 1 to December 16: France, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Spain,
2004
January 13 to December 19: Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Greece, Czech Republic, South Africa, Israel, China.
2005
January 12 to December 31: Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Macedonia, England,
2006
January 1 to June 26: England, Chile
2007
Troupe One --- March 1 to December 22: Poland,United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Greece
2010 --- Tour with Michael Flatley -- UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria
--- June 3 to June 9: Bulgaria