Lord of the Dance
Pain is a strange thing. It is physical, emotional and can be spiritual.
It may sound crazy but you almost have to make it your friend.
                                              Michael Flatley

Dancing is yet another profound example of self-expression and creativity through the body. Dancing has been around for generations and has found new styles and pushing boundaries and the advent of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers and Gene Kelley as a primary example. The pop and soul movements was a unique blend of sound causing an increased and renewed interest in freestyle movement with Michael Jackson having a large influence on us. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Irish step dancing and there is a show called Lord of the Dance that takes dancing into new levels. Lord of the Dance is an absolute dance extravaganza. It is an Irish dance show comprised of a group of highly talented energetic dancers coming together for a definite purpose. That purpose is to sweep the audience from its feet and permanently implant a high level of energy that is re-experienced time and time again. This is much more than a show, it is a highly uplifting spiritual experience. The creator and star of the show, Michael Flatley, worked very hard to bring this show into reality. He is also a profound example of someone finding purpose through the self-expression of bodily movement and most importantly, his feet. This is without question, thee show for the new millennium. He said in an interview that the show had been with him for centuries, meaning it was in his plan to bring out and manifest it.

Lord of the Dance is the story of a little spirit who goes on a journey with the Lord of the Dance. The spirit helps protect the Lord and his mystical people. During the journey the Lord of the Dance is challenged by a dark lord who seeks to strip him of his title. In the end, Good is victorious over evil.
Mr. Flatley said that he doesn’t pick and choose from other dance forms, but goes inside for whatever he wants to create. The show is a fusion of energy comprised of music, dance, emotion and feeling in flawless synchronization. The dancers are unbelievably fast and their precision is beyond comprehension. Flatley states that it is the energy that we share now and which I know will stay with you long after the show. The energy is a mix and balance between masculine and feminine. The show is a contrast between shades of light and dark energies. Those shades touch the light and dark energy in the audience.

I happened to catch the show on PBS and as I watched it I found myself connecting very deeply with its energy and message. After purchasing the video and watching it more, I found the energy was helping me to transform Karma, I knew this and could feel the cleansing. This wasn’t just a story about the ancient celts, these were actually ancient celts performing the show as well. This I had no doubt of. The celts were mystic warriors who used to go into battle naked! The celts were filled with energy and this is quite evident with the fire and energy they project in the show.

There are many words to describe this show and the one which comes to mind is electrifying. It combines different types of dances, such as tap, ballet. The show is highly entertaining and cleansing watching on video, but the real experience of energy is to see it performed live. There have been reports of crippled individuals being healed and being able to walk after seeing the show. It is successful because it was meant to be through the Holy Spirit as it did its work through Michael Flatley. It is successful because audiences connect with it. They connect with the story and with the energy, much more profoundly than some realize.

Michael Flatley has created much more than a show. He has revived the art of dancing and taken it to new levels. He has created opportunities for aspiring young dancers to realize their dreams. Feet of Flames is the elaborate version of Lord of the Dance and was performed outside at London’s Hyde Park. The finally of Feet of Flames is the greatest dance performance and synchronization of dancers ever done. It is truly a show to launch us into the new millennium.

Celtic Tiger is Michael Flatley’s most recent dance show and an extravaganza it is. Celtic Tiger is an epic that fuses the spirit and history of Ireland with dance and music. The result is a masterpiece, showcasing Irish dance as a dynamic, powerful art form. According to Michael, "Celtic Tiger portrays the oppression of a people. The tiger itself symbolizes the awakening of their spirit in the struggle for freedom. The show itself is a 90 minute spectacular. It is very fast moving, powerful and hard-hitting and I think that it is something that you have never seen before."