Flatley dances out of retirement for one last Irish show

Twinkle toed superstar (55) to make a return in ‘Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games’

Michael Flatley performing in ‘Celtic Tiger’, a show which took place between his fire retirement in 2001 and his second retirement in 2011. He’ll be back again next year. Photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times
Michael Flatley performing in ‘Celtic Tiger’, a show which took place between his fire retirement in 2001 and his second retirement in 2011. He’ll be back again next year. Photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times

Michael Flatley is to put on his dancing shoes again, three years after announcing his retirement.

The 55-year-old superstar dancer is making a return with a version of Lord of the Dance, the phenomenally successful show which made him his fortune.

Flatley first announced his retirement from touring in 2001 but returned in 2005 with a new show Celtic Tiger.

In 2011 he again said he was done with touring as the physical demands were too much.

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Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games will have its world debut on September 1st in the London Palladium.

The new production will feature Nadine Coyle, formerly of Girls Aloud who will play a goddess called Erin.

Flatley's Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games will have its Irish premiere at the O2 Arena, Dublin on March 27th next year followed by a date in Belfast on March 29th at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

Some 200 dates across 15 countries have been planned for the following 18 months.

The latest iteration will feature new music by composer Gerard Fahy.

Flatley confessed the lure of dancing at home in Ireland "one more time" was too hard to resist.

“I’m blown away by the remarkable talent and abilities of the great cast we’ve gathered.” he said.

Tickets for Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games go on sale on Monday 9 June at 9.00am.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times