- Title: UK: MICHAEL FLATLEY PERFORMS IN AN OPEN AIR SHOW IN LONDON
- Date: 26th July 1998
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDON (JULY 25, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) MICHAEL FLATLEY TALKING ABOUT THE SHOW SAYING, (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) "I FEEL FANTASTIC , MY HEART IS SINGING, IT WAS THE GREATEST SHOW OF MY LIFE, ALL THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OUT THERE, FANTASTIC DANCERS, 120 DANCERS ON STAGE DANCING THEIR HEARTS OUT, EVERY ONE OF THEM A STAR, ALL THOSE DANCERS ARE STARS." LONDON, U
- Embargoed: 10th August 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVACJ2EBI416NZX57P6ML7BTMKIB
- Story Text: Irish dance maestro Michael Flatley, whose flying feet are insured for 40 million U.S.dollars has bowed out with a spectacular open air show in London.
The flamboyant star who revolutionised Irish dancing won a standing ovation from 25,000 fans for his farewell performance with 100 dancers on a giant stage in Hyde Park on Saturday 9July 26).
Still pumped up with adrenaline afterwards, he told Reuters Television: "I do feel quite emotional about it.
"It is a bittersweet occasion.Part of me would like to be out there at the beginning, starting it all over again." "The Lord of the Dance" whose last international tour has made him a multimillionaire is now going to concentrate on a film career -- or may even return to his Chicago childhood days and become a professional boxer.
The Irish American became an overnight star in 1994 when launching the Riverdance routine in Dublin as the interval show during the Eurovision song contest.
He split with the Riverdance team and mounted his own "Lord of the Dance" extravaganza which he has performed in 100 cities around the world, grossing nearly 100 million pounds ($166 million).
Forbes magazine lists the 40-year-old Flatley as one of the world's highest paid entertainers.The breathtaking speed of his tap dancing won him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
The show, which ended on Saturday night with 20 minutes of encores and a spectacular firework display, has now been seen live by two million people around the world.
He burns up 4,000 calories every show -- the equivalent of 16 chocolate bars -- and gets through 100 pairs of dancing shoes a year.
Flatley, whose show was also featured in last year's Hollywood Oscars show, has been hailed as a brilliant and dramatic performer who single-handedly popularised the genteel art of Irish dancing.
But critics have attacked Flatley for being a driven perfectionist with a super ego to match his superstardom.
Once asked if he was the best dancer in the world, he unhesitatingly replied: "Yes." "Show me someone who can fill stadiums with 20,000 people, take five standing ovations a night, do 35 taps in a second and make a million quid (pounds) a night and I'll take my hat off to him.I am still King of the Ring," he boasted.
The boxing ring could be the next place for Flatley to show off his talents.
"Boxing is a possibility and I have been offered a lot of money," he said amid media reports that he has been offered a 35 million pound contract to enter the sport and had talks with London promoter Barry Hearn.
But after the show all he wanted to do was throw a giant party for the cast and crew."I am going to get toasted now," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None