Dancer Michael Flatley, a Chicago native with an extremely high level of energy, may appear to some as an egotistical sex symbol. But that may be because he is consumed by his work, business and art.
"People confuse self-confidence with ego," Flatley has stated in the past. His motto has always been, "If you can dream it, you can have it."Flatley will bring his 40-member Irish dance concert, "Lord of the Dance," to the Delta Center Monday and Tuesday, June 2-3. Show-time for both performances is 8 p.m.
The road to success has had many strange twists and turns for Flatley, 38. His father hails from Sligo, Ireland, an area famous for its music, dance and legends. His mother was reared in Carlow, where his maternal grandmother had been a Leinster dance champion.
Although his first dive into the performing arts was with the flute, Flatley, who is the second of five children, turned to a more physical sense of expression.
He began dancing at 11. And when he was told by numerous dance teachers that he was too old to begin, it only made him work harder.
The hard work paid off. By 17, the motivated artist became the first American All-World Irish Dancing champion. Shortly after graduating from high school, Flatley joined several dance companies before returning to the flute for a short time with the popular Irish band the Chieftains.
Touring with the band brought on a chain of events that would eventually forge Flatley's destiny.
He met a makeup artist named Beata Dziaba. The two married in 1986 but separated in 1993 because of Flatley's constant touring. After the separation, Flatley embarked on a quest to Ireland to help choreograph a dance number for the televised "Eurovision Song Contest."
The result was "Riverdance," which began as a seven-minute piece that turned into a multimillion-dollar production.
That's when the problems began. Conflicting reports about wage grabbing, artistic control and intracompany personality disputes eventually forced Flatley out of "Riverdance."
"I find it very upsetting when they say I got greedy, because that's not the sort of person I am," Flatley said shortly after his departure. "I'd dance for a dollar a night if need be, but I wanted what was mine."
The lawsuit has yet to go to court.
Leaving "Riverdance" turned out to be a good move for Flatley, who was considered by Irish dance purists as an American nut who was making a blasphemous spectacle of an almost sacred art.
"I told the dancers to use their arms instead of having them stiffly down by their sides," Flatley explained about the subtle changes in the routines. "(I told them) to smile, and I wore trousers instead of a kilt."
"Lord of the Dance" is not to be considered "Riverdance Part II." Instead of a traditional dance showcase, "Lord of the Dance" has a story line. The production follows a Celtic spirit and her dream through dance that incorporates Gypsy, disco, tap and ballet styles.
Flatley has dedicated his life savings to the show. If it fails, he will be dancing for a dollar a night.
By the looks of things, however - video sales, ticket sales and a mountain of appearances - it won't come to that.
"I'd much sooner try and fail," Flatley has said, "than spend the rest of my life wishing I'd tried."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
`Lord of the Dance' trivia
- Creator Michael Flatley started dancing at age 11.
- He was the first American to win the All-World Championships in Irish Dancing.
- He was recognized by the American National Endowment for the Arts as one of the country's greatest performers.
- The National Geographic Society has deemed Flatley as a Living Treasure.
- "Lord of the Dance" sold 1.5 million videos worldwide in less than 12 weeks.
- "Lord of the Dance" opened first world preview June 18, 1996, at the Point Auditorium in Dublin, Ireland.
- It is the only production to play at Radio City Music Hall for two consecutive weeks.