michael flatley

Born July 16, 1958 (1958-07-16) (age 50)

Chicago, Illinois Occupation Step dancer Net worth £350+ Million (estimated).

Michael Ryan Flatley (born July 16, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Irish step dancer, flautist and choreographer who became internationally known through the theatre musical, Riverdance. Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Awards and recognition 4 Personal life 4.1 Attempted extortion against Flatley 5 References in popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External links //

Early life

From the south side of Chicago, his parents were from County Sligo and County Carlow. Flatley began dancing lessons at 11 and, in 1975, became the first non-European resident to win the All-Ireland World Championship for Irish dance. As a trained boxer he won the Chicago Golden Gloves Championship in 1975 aged 17. Flatley is also known as being a proficient flautist, having twice won the All-Ireland Competition. In dance, Flatley was taught by Dennis Dennehy at the Dennehy School of Irish Dance in Chicago, then went on to producing his own show. After graduating from Brother Rice High School, on Chicago's South Side, he opened a dance school.

Career

From 1978-79 he toured with Green Fields of America, whose members included Liz Carroll, Father Charlie Coen, Jack Coen, Sean McGlynn, Mick Moloney and Bill Ochs, with a slightly less flamboyant Donny Golden dancing alongside Michael. Later he toured with The Chieftains in the 1980s.[1]

He co-created the initial choreography for Riverdance and, with fellow lead dancer Jean Butler, led the show to great success as the intermission act in the Eurovision Song Contest on April 30, 1994. Flatley and Butler then starred in the full-length show that was developed from the original seven-minute act. After leaving the show over creative disagreements,[2] Flatley produced, directed, and choreographed his own show, Lord of the Dance. In 1998, Flatley put together a dance production called Feet of Flames, a version of which toured the US in 2000 and 2001.

Flatley's current Irish dance show is Celtic Tiger, which opened in July 2005. The show explores the history of the Irish people and Irish emigration to the US, fusing a wide range of dance styles, including jazz. The show also includes popular elements from his previous shows, such as Flatley's flute solos and the line of dancers in the finale.

In March 2006 Flatley released his own autobiographical book titled Lord of the Dance: My Story. Regarding his future, Flatley was quoted in the Celtic Tiger program book as saying, "I will be a dancer until the day I die," though more developments in entertainment are planned (see below).

In the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars in the US, he appeared as a guest judge, filling in for Len Goodman. In the fall of 2008, Flatley and a troupe of male dancers performed on Dancing with the Stars in the USA.

He is currently the host of the NBC show Superstars of