‘Lord of the Dance’ marches on
Flatley production in its 11th year of touring
“Lord of the Dance” calls itself both “the world’s greatest dance show” and “the most critically acclaimed tour of all time.”
That puts the needle on the hype-meter into the red zone, yet there’s no question that Michael Flatley’s production is a major international phenomenon.
This show is in its 11th straight year of touring. Two troupes continue to fill continent after continent with Irish step dancing.
On Tuesday, when Troupe No. 1 will be bouncing away on the stage in Montpellier, France, Troupe No. 2 will be doing the same at the INB Performing Arts Center in Spokane.
It is, by any measure, an uncommonly well-known show. After it first emerged in 1996, it became a popular PBS staple . The tour previously tapped its way into Spokane in 2004.
As familiar at it may be, there are two things you should know about it:
•Flatley will not be present, despite the fact that it is billed as “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance.” Flatley has not performed in “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance” since 1998.
He remains, however, the creative force behind the show. All of the choreography is Flatley’s; he continues to visit the tours often to oversee the creative aspects of the show. He keeps the whole cast, more or less, hopping.
•The show is not identical to “Riverdance.” Flatley first gained fame in 1994 as one of the lead dancers in “Riverdance,” but he left the cast because of creative differences after its Dublin run and before its London premiere: He wanted to do a big, arena-style show.
So Flatley went on to conceive and choreograph “Lord of the Dance,” which had less emphasis on global dance styles and a stronger emphasis on Irish step dancing and spectacular production values.
If the 2004 visit by “Lord of the Dance” is in any indication, this production will not stint on the flashy lighting and sets.
The set was a giant, looming castlelike structure, lit with flaming torches and entwined Celtic symbols. It even had a drawbridge. Smoke and fog were part of almost every number.
The show has a Celtic-mythical storyline which encompasses nothing less than the battle between Good versus Evil. The Lord of the Dance must do battle (Irish step dancing style) with Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord.