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It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance first took the world by storm, but three decades later, it remains just as spectacular.
Flatley, arguably the world’s most famous Irish dancer and the former Guinness World Record holder for the fastest taps per second (35, no less), retired from performing a decade ago but is still very much at the heart of the production as its director.
Featuring 40 world-class performers, the 30th anniversary show delivers refreshed choreography, stunning costumes, special effects and lighting, as well as more than 150,000 taps over the course of the evening, creating a thunderous soundtrack that’s simply mesmerising to watch.
Starring veteran dancers and rising talent alike, the story is a classic tale of good versus evil. For those unfamiliar with the tale, in the mischievous Little Spirit’s dream the Lord of the Dance represents all things good in the world but he must fight against evil in the form of The Dark Lord and his army of Warlords. Morrighan the Temptress comes between The Lord and his true love Saoirse, while Erin the Goddess delivers angelic vocals throughout the show.
Though there are only a handful of spoken moments, the storytelling element remains clear, told through the universal language dance, music and expression. The show does a fantastic job at balancing the light with the dark, with some scenes feeling sinister and foreboding while others are more enchanting and fairytale like.
But it’s the speed, stamina and synchronisation of the dancers that takes centre stage and is nothing short of astonishing. The powerful performances really do come to life on stage for an emotional journey you can really get immersed in. The Lord of the Dance commands the stage with the required amount of swagger and showmanship worthy of the iconic role, acting every bit the confident, cheeky hero along the way. The live violinists were another highlight, elevating the already dramatic soundtrack by Gerard Fahy.
Having seen the show before, I wasn’t sure it could impress me quite as much a second time, but I found myself just as captivated. Lord of the Dance is a wonderful homage to Flatley’s enduring career and a contemporary celebration of Irish culture and heritage. It’s easy to see why more than 60 million people across 60 countries have fallen in love with it over the past three decades. Catch the gloabal phenomenon at the Regent Theatre until Wednesday, July 15.
