Riverdance opening dance michael flatley biography

Irish musical and dance production

For the ship, see MS Riverdance. For the animated film, see Riverdance: The Animated Adventure.

Riverdance is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. As of 2023, the show continues to tour the world.

Background

Riverdance is rooted in a three-part suite of baroque-influenced traditional music called Timedance. The suite was composed, recorded and performed for the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, which was held in Ireland. At the time, Bill Whelan and Dónal Lunny composed the music, augmenting the Irish folk band Planxty with a rock rhythm section of electric bass and drums and a four-piece horn section. The piece was performed, with accompanying dancers from Dublin City Ballet, during the interval of the contest, and later released as a Planxty single. Whelan had also produced EastWind, a 1992 album by Planxty member Andy Irvine with Davy Spillane, which fused Irish and Balkan folk music and influenced the genesis of "Riverdance". After composing "Riverdance", Whelan said, "It was no mistake of mine to call it Riverdance because it connected absolutely to Timedance".

History

1994

Riverdance was first performed during the seven-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 at the Point Theatre in Dublin on 30 April 1994. The performance was transmitted to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide and earned a standing ovation. The performance is often considered the most well-know

American step dancer (born 1958)

Michael Ryan Flatley (born July 16, 1958) is an American former professional performer and choreographer of Irish dance. Flatley is credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance by incorporating new rhythms, syncopation, and upper body movements, which were previously absent from the dance. He created and performed in Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, Celtic Tiger Live and Michael Flatley's Christmas Dance Spectacular. Flatley's shows have played to more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion. He has also been an actor, writer, director, producer, musician, and philanthropist.

Flatley formerly held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second and his feet were at one time insured for $57.6 million. Flatley retired from dance in 2016 due to constant spinal, knee, foot, and rib pain. In January 2023, he was treated for "an aggressive cancer", which is now in remission.

Early life

Michael Ryan Flatley was born on July 16, 1958, the second of five children born to Irish parents Michael James Flatley and Elisabeth "Eilish" Flatley (née Ryan), both of whom had emigrated to the United States in 1947. Michael was a plumber from County Sligo, and Eilish was a gifted step dancer from

Bio

Michael Flatley was born July 16, 1958, in Chicago. His parents, immigrants from County Sligo, Ireland, instilled in their children a love and respect for the traditions of their homeland, especially music and dance. Michael learned from his mother the rudiments of Irish step dance, a highly stylized form in which the upper body is held rigid, the arms vertical at the sides, while the legs and feet perform with athletic and rhythmic virtuosity.

At the age of 11, Michael tried to take formal lessons but was told that he was already too old to learn properly. He moved the cars out of his parents' garage in the Oak Lawn suburb of Chicago and spent hundreds of hours there learning the basic steps and practicing. "And then I started adding my own steps," he said. "It was the only way to win. The Irish kids eat, drink, and sleep step dancing, and they are way ahead of anyone else. "

Irish step dancing is indeed highly competitive. Contests begin at the local level and work up to national competition, ending in the annual All-World Championships in Ireland. Flatley is the undisputed champion of modern Irish step dancing. At 17, he became the first American to win the title of All-World Champion at the annual international competition in Dublin. He also gained a major position in the field of Irish flute music, winning the All-Ireland Concert Flute Championship for three consecutive years, 1974-1976. In 1978 he retired from general competition as a musician and dancer, having compiled an unsurpassed record of technical and aesthetic excellence that included 168 first-place championships.

Flatley was a Golden Gloves boxing champion as well and considered becoming a professional boxer. But an offer from the Irish musical ensemble the Chieftains made him reconsider, and he joined the group for a worldwide tour. "This guy said he saw one of my performances," Flatley recalled, "and he wants to know: 'How would you like to dance with the Chieftains?' I just couldn't be

Dance is a universal language that transcends boundaries, and one individual who effortlessly embodies this ethos is the legendary Michael Flatley. In 1994, the world witnessed an explosion of talent as an unknown group named Riverdance stole the show at Ireland’s Euro-vision Song Contest. Little did anyone know that this performance would spark a dance revolution, catapulting Flatley into the limelight.

A Rhythmic Revolution: Riverdance’s Meteoric Rise

Riverdance wasn’t just a performance; it was a seismic shift in the world of dance. Michael Flatley’s innovative approach infused traditional Irish dance with new rhythms, introducing mesmerizing upper body movements previously unseen in this art form. His fusion of tap and modern dance styles breathed new life into Irish dancing, captivating audiences worldwide.

Flatley’s groundbreaking talent didn’t stop there. His lightning-fast footwork set a Guinness World Record for tap dancing—an astounding 35 times per second! His feet even earned the distinction of being insured for a staggering $57.6 million.

Michael Flatley: A Life in Dance

Born on July 16, 1958, Michael Flatley’s journey into the world of dance began at the age of 11 in Chicago. His Irish roots and a passion for dance spurred him to pursue lessons at the Dennehy School of Irish Dance. At just 17, he became the first American to clinch a World Irish Dance title—an early indicator of the remarkable career that lay ahead.

The Genesis of a Dance Revolution

Flatley’s star ascended rapidly after catching the attention of Mary Robinson, Ireland’s president, and production producers. His invitation to create an intermission show for the 1994 Euro vision Song Contest marked the birth of Riverdance. What started as a seven-minute performance evolved into a full-length production that took the world by storm.

However, his departure from Riverdance in 1995 marked a pivotal moment. Disputes over royalties and creative control