Record

CodeDS/UK/20250
NameFlatley; Michael (16 July 1958); American-born Irish dancer, choreographer and musician
Variations of NameMichael Ryan Flatley
Dates16 July 1958
GenderMale
Place of Birth/OriginDetroit, Michigan (born)
RelationshipsSon of Michael Flatley (Irish plumber) and Elizabeth Eilish Ryan (Irish)
Husband of Niamh O'Brien (dancer)
BiographyMichael Flatley is an Irish-American former dancer, choreographer, and musician. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger Live. Flatley's shows have played to more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion.

Flatley is credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance by incorporating new rhythms, syncopation, and upper body movements, which were previously absent from the dance. He is in the Guinness World Records for tap dancing 35 times per second and his feet were at one time insured for $57.6 million. Flatley retired in 2016 due to constant spinal, knee, foot, and rib pain.

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