Michael Ryan Flatley, an American dancer, gained fame for his creation and performances in various Irish dance shows such as Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, Celtic Tiger Live, and Michael Flatley’s Christmas Dance Spectacular.

Profile

• Full Name: Michael Ryan Flatley
• Stage Name: Michale Flatley
• Born: July 16, 1958
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Professional Dancer
• Height: 1.75m
• Parent: Michael Flatley Snr, Eilish Flatley
• Siblings: Thomasina Griffin, Patrick Flatley, Anne-Marie Flatley, Eliza Callahan
• Spouse: Niamh O’Brien, Be a ta Dziaba
• Children: Michael St James Flatley
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $301m

Early Life

Michael Ryan Flatley was born in Chicago on July 16, 1958, to Irish parents Michael James Flatley and Elisabeth “Eilish” Flatley.

At eleven, he began learning to dance with Dennis G. Dennehy and won various Irish dance and boxing competitions in the 1970s.

Despite considering a career in boxing, Flatley ultimately chose to pursue dance and was praised by various publications for his talent and agility.

Education

While Michael Flatley is indeed an American dancer, his formal education primarily focused on Irish dance, not traditional American dance styles.

This all-boys Catholic private school in Chicago( Brother Rice High School) was Michael Flatley‘s primary academic institution.

Flatley developed his skills from a young age, even practicing in his garage. At 11, he briefly attempted formal lessons but was deemed “too old.”

His competitive spirit and talent flourished through local, national, and international Irish dance competitions, culminating in him being the first American to win the World Irish Dance title in 1975.

Career

After finishing high school, Flatley dabbled in various professions, such as stockbroking, blackjack gambling, and playing the flute.

He went on tour with Green Fields of America from 1978 to 1979 and later toured with The Chieftains in the 1980s, but his request to join the band full-time was denied.

Following attention from notable individuals like Ireland’s President Mary Robinson and producers of dance shows, Flatley was invited to collaborate on a performance for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest intermission.

His 7-minute show, “Riverdance,” during the contest in Ireland garnered global praise.

This success led Flatley to advocate for expanding the show into a full production, eventually becoming the renowned show Riverdance.

Produced by Moya Doherty, with Flatley and Jean Butler leading in choreography and performances, it premiered at the Point Theatre in Dublin in February 1995.

After parting ways with Riverdance, Flatley created his own show, Lord of the Dance. This show was not limited to traditional theaters and could be staged in arenas and stadiums.

Lord of the Dance premiered at the Point Theatre in Dublin in June 1996, followed by its U.K. debut at the London Coliseum.

Ronan Hardiman composed the music for the show. In 1997, Flatley earned £36 million, placing him 25th among the world’s top-earning entertainers.

In 1998, Flatley expanded the show into a performance called Feet of Flames, which served as a one-off and his final appearance in Lord of the Dance.

This special show took place outdoors in Hyde Park, London, on a 4-tier hydraulic stage, with over 100 dancers performing during the grand finale.

The production featured new numbers, including a solo by Flatley, set to music by Ronan Hardiman, and new compositions by Hardiman.

In May 2015, Flatley announced that he had extensive damage to his spine, a damaged left knee, a torn right calf muscle, two ruptured Achilles tendons, a fractured rib, and a recurring foot injury. That same year, his caricature was displayed at Sardi’s restaurant on Broadway.

In November 2015, his show Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games premiered at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway. Due to his injuries, he could only perform in the final two numbers.

Following shows in New York, Flatley embarked on a final tour in the U.S. His last performance was initially believed to be in Las Vegas on St. Patrick’s Day 2016.

Awards and Nominations

• National Heritage Fellowship (1988)
• Irish Dancing Commission Fellowship Award (2001)
• Fellow of the American Irish Dance Teachers’ Association (2001)
• Special award from Prince Rainier of Monaco (2003):
• Irish American of the Year (2003):
• Honorary Doctorate from University College Dublin (2004)
• Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2004)
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Limerick (2016)
• Best Actor Award at the Monaco Streaming Film Festival (2022) For his role in the film “Blackbird” (also written, directed, and financed by him)
• Echo Award for Best Music DVD: For his dance

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @michaelflatleyofficial
• Facebook handle: Michael Flatley
• Twitter handle: @Michaelflatley2

Personal Life

Flatley and Beata Dziaba tied the knot in a Danish registry office in 1986 but ended their marriage in 1997 due to his infidelities.

He was briefly engaged to Lisa Murphy before her passing in 2024.

Flatley later found love with Niamh O’Brien, a dancer from his shows, with whom he had a Catholic wedding in 2006.

They now reside between Monte Carlo and Castlehyde House in Ireland with their son, Michael St. James, born in 2007.

Net Worth

It was reported that his wealth amounted to €301 million.

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