Michael Flatley appears on ITV's This Morning and on The South Bank Show October 26 1997 ITV1

Michael Flatley's appearances on ITV's This Morning back to back with his appearance on The South Bank Show with Melvyn Bragg on 26 October 1997.

[@hansvonnarnia2230]

The Elvis of Irish dance. There will be others, but no one will ever be able to equal Michael Flatley.

[@teresaprete4639]

Michael they wanted to own your soul. Thank you for protecting your artistic soul .

[@bridgetwalsh9021]

😊😊

[@bfyrth]

and making Blackbird also

[@castelnedd]

The man just makes you want to smile. Well done Michael

[@debbymagill9606]

I am struck by Michael Flatley’s soft spokeness. He is superbly talented, daring and still grounded in his family ties. Confident in his own abilities, he has the strength to encourage his world-class dancers to dream as he once did. His show soars to new heights because of his own dreams. Brilliant!!!

[@jenbarry5340]

Ohhhh I just love and will always love Michael Flatley he is the best!!!

[@martinelemeur89]

I think so

[@Carol-sx6rg]

His charme and moving/ tapping is enchanting ❤️ but I also love seeing the lord's of this time. I think Michael is very proud of all of them

[@ronwillems6817]

is alweer 30 jr geleden😅maar hij is nog sttteeds amazing 😊

[@josephinenobile1594]

Yes great dancer ! No one ever danced like him !

[@nancygarrett0000]

Michael flatley is pure hardworking devoted talent! Bravo!!!!

[@GLORYWIELDERS]

It's great to see someone who stays true to the dreams God gave him, who has integrity, is courageous enough to use it, and they succeed!! Bravo, Mr. Flatley! Long may you dance and produce novel & fantastic material!! 👍👏👊🙏🕊❤🇮🇳

[@llindqu295]

We saw him in Lord of the Dance in LasVegas! We did not know what we were going to see, but if it was possible, we would be the first to get tickets again! We couldn't stop talking about the show for the rest of the night.

[@Carol-sx6rg]

Wish I was there at the time 😊 never been in las Vegas. He's a very great dancer & entertainer 💕 still watching the DVDs. They are on tour again. Maybe.. I'll be there to watch live again

[@stevenstorm6855]

This young man had a great life doing what he enjoyed doing and giving people peace at watching him doing what he loved. Live in Ireland and enjoy peace.

[@skipandgeorgia521]

Something stirs in my soul when I see the dance and hear the music!

[@henkpoog1264]

The frist time I saw this was more than 20 years ago , new years eve on tv !!! I was drinking Champaign and I was drunk of extracy, love and the adrenaline was going trough my vains!!! Never never saw something like that !!!! I was in love !!! Greetings from the Netherlands!! Gr Lillian 🌹🇳🇱

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

Great interview I Loved the original one but understand why he had to do his own thing after the way he was treated he is quite a force to deal with and what a dancing machine soooo much energy unbelievable to watch .

[@dianed.3335]

I am telling you .. I literally swooned like a teen when I met Michael Flatley in NYC following Dangerous Games. For goodness sake.

[@browsman2328]

This man has a lot of quiet charisma and is laser focused on his artistic vision. It’s a formidable combination.

[@catbail13]

Very interesting interview. I think the guy's a legend, he worked so hard (literally hours a day). He revolutionised Irish dancing, and brought a show that millions have enjoyed. The Riverdance team behaved so badly trying to take the credit and just expecting him to be a paid dancer. Anyway, he had the last laugh. His own show, Lord of the Dance, was incredibly successful and he's now worth many millions. Good on him, he's brought a lot of pleasure to many, and he's worked for it.

[@myraberryhill5850]

If it gets any better, you'll know you've made it to HEAVEN!!!!

[@johnmelia1331]

Lp

[@josephinenobile1594]

I remember at the time he left the show Riverdance....he got so much negative reviews in the press...but he proved them wrong !!!!! I've never seeing someone dancing like him...since !!!! There were/are good Irish dancers but he was the best !!!!!

[@conniemitchell2427]

@ Michael Flatley,, I watch this almost every day!!! 👏 Bravo

[@purplescapular4935]

I admire you and respect for your superb talented. Love you Michael Flatly, you are a true LEGEND.

[@theresaastley9339]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS !!! Great interview !!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 I saw Riverdance on a PBS Special and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT....AND HIM !!!! I have been in AWE of Michael, his talents & creativity ever since then. He is a MAGNIFICENT DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, SHOWMAN & ARTIST !!!! May God bless him, his family, his dance troupes & all of his endeavors !!!! 💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝🙏💝

[@lynettepeel6598]

In in in in in i in in

[@margaritabauzafont4141]

Por favor traducir en español somos muchos que lo agradeceriamos❤😅😊

[@carolsheenyhailstoneartgra3977]

What a legend! An inspiration to everyone 👏🏻👏🏻

[@keithstarkey5584]

Wow, just found this. Great doc!

[@jeansalzman2.012]

THIS!!! All of this. This gentleman worked hard.... very hard. Thank you, Michael!

[@conniemitchell2427]

That is what I left out, it is your passion that makes you!!! I am a professional makeup artist 👩‍🎨 and I have that passion, and no one knows unless they have that type of passion. Miraculous passion. I am so happy I found this on my cell phone. Now I can have you and your dance 🕺 every day.

[@user-tf9fh4sy4c]

The pure adrenaline he gets on stage must be off the scale.

[@dianed.3335]

The pure adrenaline the audience gets upon witnessing his genius is also off the scale!

[@connierowden5632]

Absolutely Remarkable. Amazing. The best in the world!!

[@jadeybridger]

You learn so much about this man it’s incredible. The fact that Riverdance tried to take his own production away from him is absolutely disgusting. I’m so proud of him though I thoroughly enjoyed watching him live

[@GLORYWIELDERS]

This happens frequently in the industry. You would be surprised how they can flip and turn a contract on you. It is the saddest thing 2 working create something amazing, something novel, and have it be successful, then to have someone try to steal it from you. They're intimidated by him. He's ingenious and he's normal and he stays fresh, all things that Hollywood/ the entertainment industry is lacking in general!! We need more innovators like him, so let's keep supporting them!😘👍😁👏

[@RJA_World]

What actually happened is Michael Flatley demanded the be the star of the show and allow him to tweak the show to he wanted it and make it in to something similar to Lord of the dance. He was hired to choreograph some of the dances with Jean Butler, his ego took over and he thought Riverdance was his show. Obviously he won't admit this but that's what actually happened. Riverdance wasn't his and he didn't own any of it. He was replaceable.

[@jadeybridger]

@@RJA_World first mistake. Michael Flatley will never be replaceable. He is the number one dancer, especially in Irish dance on the planet. I’m sorry I can’t name a single lead role in Riverdance after Michael Flatley. Also, I very much doubt what you’re saying is true about the show. Michael Flatley didn’t want to be the star. He was the star. And so was Jean Butler and multiple others as well. I have watched his shows and I have grown up watching him and my opinion on him will never change. The fact that he has multiple other shows that are so successful and Riverdance is only successful because Michael Flatley was associated with it. They tried to steal the show from him when it was his show and Jean Butler show put together. I’m not stupid don’t believe everything you read.

[@RJA_World]

@@jadeybridger I've watched several documentaries and no body was bigger than anyone in that show, which is what Michael Flatley means by "generic show". He wanted to be that main star and Riverdance producers didn't want a "main star". Michael then left around 14 hours before he was due to perform a week's run in Hammersmith in London, forcing the producers to quickly find a replacement (Colin Dunne), get him up to speed with the whole show, rehearse it ect in those 14 hours. I'm sorry but you're very stupid if you felt Michael was the "main star" and that he was pushed out. He was bought in for a purpose of one of the main choreographer which never meant he owned any of the work, he just provided it. Once he wanted more from the show and couldn't gey it he left and went on to do what he intended to do with Riverdance. He did at it don't vet me wrong, I'm a lifelong Michael Flatley fan ans saw him in Lord of the dance in 2010. But I also look at the facts. Unless it's YOUR show, anyone is replaceable.

[@jadewooding9886]

Michael is such a beautiful man 💜

[@chrishoffman6974]

Thanks for Irish music & dance through the years! Love it!

[@hipdogdsv]

I was there, I was there! Star Plex outdoor stage at Fair Park. It was spectacular!!! And it was hot even in Oct because...it's Dallas. The show is MAGICAL!!

[@dannypowell8080]

I think Michael flatley is a great dance creator

[@TheWorldsprayer]

I remember the first time I saw this and recorded it on the TV. I watched that VHS so MANY times growing up. I always imagined him to be this powerful, loud man based on what he did. I never imagined he would be so soft spoken and gentle. It's nuts.

[@jillychadwick2085]

Love Michael Flately

[@PaulReid-j2e]

I remember first seeing micheal Flatley doing riverbanks on television, I was amazed by the stamina,the fitness of all who took part and gave a fantastic performance, such a shame Mr flatly has to perform his last ever performance,but I'm sure he gave alot of people,including myself alot of inspiration to achieve things in their lives,thankyou Mr flatly I wish u well and all the very best in your life,

[@user-mw6pq9wd5s]

Il never forget sitting with my parents and siblings in Cork City on the Eurovision night , in awe of the masterpiece just amazing ! Not one of us dared to whisper ☘️❤️

[@ethanol52]

An amazing interview as well as an amazing dancer. 👏 👏

[@joanofarcxxi]

I watched his show Lord Of The Dance in OC (south if LA) at the Aneheim Pond, about 20 years ago. It was honestly the best live show of any kind that I have ever seen. The energy was magical and mysterious, riveting, and the entire show kept me on the edge of my seat. Beautiful setting, music, atmosphere, it was like I was transported to another realm. Michael is phenomenal, powerful, supernatural, he is not human! :) I still now enjoy watching the show and listening to the sound track. I heard him say once that he lost 10 lbs with each show. Yes, I believe it. I love you Michael Flatley. Blessings for you and your family.

[@Solus793]

From the way he dances you'd expect Michael Flatley to be a very pompous man filled with his own self-importance but he comes across as so humble and gentle in person.

[@hazelpickard6821]

He has so much presence on stage and ive seen other dances do the shows he created but no one has his presence and charisma

[@conniemitchell2427]

@ Michael Flatley,, you are the most amazing dancer 🕺 that has ever been! I don’t know how you walk let alone dance ❤ You are years above your dancer… yet so humble, you are God’s gift to us… ❤I watch and listen to you for hours,never tiring of your craft. Love,Love,Love every moment. ❤❤And your personality is beyond belief. And I must say your Son is also that fabulous ❤❤❤❤

[@moniquecarriere223]

He is so loveable, nice guy.

[@bernadettekavanagh9984]

No one else has ever made Irish dance so cool.

[@dianneebranch8949]

Glad for the full story of Michael's humble beginnings, dreams, follow through, never giving up 😊

[@karihiltner7407]

God bless you for posting this!! 😃😍❤️

[@Carol-sx6rg]

Never seen this interview before! Thank you for posting. He's a very spiritual talented man. With a lot of charme 💕 seen the show live. Still gives me goosebumbs ! The end of this vid is it, never stop staring out of the window don't stop dreaming. But if the impulse is there, go for it. X

[@ruthe.chidley6979]

I can totally agree. Taking the musical talent that God gave me, through a dream time, is how I was able to create a series of Four Grand Piano Concerts. I had further dreams of adding more pianos in a tour when I was injured in an auto accident that uncovered a brain anomaly which needed surgery. I suffered nerve damage as a result of the surgery and became disabled. I never regret the short time I had in giving joy to others through music rendered through 4 Grand Pianos playing together on stage.❤️

[@Carol-sx6rg]

@@ruthe.chidley6979 , just read your comment. Don't really know what to answer. Just that I feel sorry for the fact your live changed so radically 😢 but somehow you got true it all. ❤️ Music is energy and true that we can connect ❤️ and share love and all these wonderful feelings. I hope you ate fine and wish you all the best! 🙏💕 Regards from the Netherlands

[@ruthe.chidley6979]

@@Carol-sx6rg Thank you Carlo L for your very kind words. I have had 33 major surgeries and I never have a day without some varying degree of pain but I am so very blessed and thankful for the love and support I have from my family and friends. My husband and I have now been blessed with 16 wonderful grandchildren to love and enjoy. I have endeavored to occupy my time with praying for others and their needs plus making things that I can share with others…mainly through crocheting! If I could realize one other wish it would be to travel a little again. My husband and I enjoy experiencing new places and meeting wonderful people from around the world. Again, I want to thank you for reaching out to me with such kind words and thoughts! You definitely blessed my day in a very special way! Love❤️and Prayers🙏

[@citysurvivor4919]

I’m so glad to see this. It brings wonderful memories of seeing the show with my Mother. We had a fantastic, heart pounding, and exciting experience together! I miss her dearly but we were so happy to have had this time. My Mother had gotten me a poster which I hung up immediately, cherishing proudly the Irish blood in our veins. RIP Mommy as I think about our evening with Michael Flatley and The lord of the Dance!

[@phil-zz5hk]

bringing the rock back was massively influential . that was one of the main aspects of his dance that was first picked up on .

[@teresagrifffin7132]

Please god his health will return he is a bloody legend

[@brendadaniels7075]

Love Irish dancing....my grandfather was Irish and grandmother was Cherokee. I'm Proud of my heritage.

[@Notintimidated2013]

He made the smartest decision of his life!! God bless him!!🙏😇☘️💚

[@conniemitchell2427]

I want to say Michael, you are the most wonderful dancer 🕺 in the world… Simply unbelievable, my Aunt had your tape introducing you to me. This God given talent is completely to the bone. You have someone no one else has ever had nor ever will have. Your Son is wonderful but no one can touch your talent. I don’t have enough words to explain this kind of talent and people hold their breath at times watching such perfect, never out of sink for one second. You simply have drive and determination like I have ever seen and will never see again. God Bless you and bless you for sharing this with the world.

[@KimCarter]

So glad this is on here, thanks! I do still wonder, though, with the success of LOTD, why not make a similar show with a different story? I feel like there’s SO much potential there

[@donaldmatthew4980]

Great interview, Michael, God bless you.

[@jeanhammond1363]

Just seeing this interview...so enlightening...saw Lord of the Dance concerts twice (without Michael) and was absolutely amazed.. just wish I could have seen it with him but his spirit was there in every movement...no one will ever come close to his dance

[@sylviatodd2986]

Wonderful. His energy Absolutly amazing The best show ever

[@lindaf.wasson4508]

The Best dancer I've ever seen.

[@craciunflavius9786]

Michael is a genial ,is special men and the king of Irish dancing .I love so much irish dance

[@thomascorcoran8823]

This man is my idol

[@rebeccabledsoe4550]

While visiting California was able to get a ticket to sold out show was awesome show ,

[@JustFiddler]

I'm not a dancer. but he is my idol. matur suksma. greeting from bali island

[@apachespook71]

Woke up from a Yummy dream this morning where I was the female lead in a dance with Michael Flatley... Wow......

[@LinaLina-ff3lk]

Talented, handsome and humble...Great traits!

[@corryjookit7818]

Magical Michael!

[@KylieReece89]

I love when Michael dances with Bernadette it looks so beautiful ❤

[@bernadetteoneill7319]

Beautiful Angel of dance. Fills my soul with love and light☘☘☘

[@janewashington3178]

Keep dreaming. Dream stealers there are plenty of them! Hold onto that dream. Glad you never sold your soul Michael.

[@tonicabarkovic8577]

Prekrasno prekrasno prekrasno snažno inspirrativno očaravajuçe i još mnogo toga lijepog.kad ih gledam ggotovo da ne mogu vjerovati koliko su dobri. I zamislite sada da netko smije umanjiti ljudsku veličanstvenost.

[@laurasisson1121]

"Texas is wild" Michael you have no idea! lol

[@gracejohnson9509]

Omg, I love this!!

[@emmiewilson5024]

What a wonderful video and a remarkable man. ❤

[@annetteblyaert3874]

Love him :) he is the best :)

[@michelledelaney5132]

Dear lord I definitely would 🥵🥵♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@tomikabrockman4363]

I saw him twice it was just amazing beyond words

[@fionakiely3505]

A legend.

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

True to himself and his iconic talent

[@debruhknackert3586]

Love him, you Michael ❣️

[@alexthepensmith6101]

Claudia Winkleman is still exactly the same as she is here (just minus the fringe) 🤣

[@jesshussain9019]

You’re an amazing dancer

[@helgastehle3641]

Herrlich ein Körper ohne Tattoos 💋🎇

[@wwredgrl1515]

He is talented, amazing dancer. He’s deserves everything he has. Riverdance was a marvel. Seems he has a big ego - but I can understand that. Just my own opinion about the ego. But there will never be anyone like him in Irish step.

[@ОльгаТерентьева-ф3р]

Замечательный человек,здравия желаю.

[@equine2020]

He was billant. WOW describes his talent.

[@michelelarzilliere9187]

Je vous adore ❤❤

[@annaw6099]

💖

[@gottalovetheinternet]

He’s like the Conor McGregor of dance. You have to believe in yourself 100% to achieve this level of success

[@dianaswett6397]

Life is all about energy ❤

[@MultiVince95]

Sunday 26th October 1997

[@rebeccabledsoe4550]

I wanted to work in movies and I moved to California no job no place to stay and knowing no one after rex passed and i followed my dreams

[@ekaterinaroyster5892]

He's a greatest Irish dancer that ever lived however the gardener brothers are coming up fast bring them up online you'll see what I mean

[@ricardoguerrero5062]

Amazing the part when he says he was scrutinized at school for dreaming................, HOW many young minds are crushed by mediocre adults who stop them from dreaming BIG!

[@kaleidoscope8743]

I used to see over Mikhail Baryshnikov's leaps until Michael Flatley came leaping and running along. He literally runs like a pedigree stallion. Like those lippisan stallions... except without the trainer.

[@jakiecosyn5165]

💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@sandratogneri9982]

Superb ! Follow that dream XXX

[@vanovacbl]

браво мастеру танца

[@MFrainbow]

❤❤❤👍

[@biff408]

the chick from the morning show was amazing - they should have focused more on her.

[@jennydenktselbst74]

Seriously??

[@phil-zz5hk]

the problem with Irish dancing is, it is so conservative with all aspects of it . Michael kept a hell of a lot of them aspects , but took the main thing into another stratosphere . Irish people have emigrated to all parts of the world , and have great traditions to this day . in my opinion , Michael has professionalised the dance and took it into another far superior plain .

[@singer2be256]

Aww he actually seems really sweet. Jean said he's not nice at all. Who's the real villain in the riverdance saga?

[@dianasoto7011]

Jeans a bitch, Michael loves blondes, which probably pissed her off. She didnt have what it took to be his partner, his energy level is far higher than hers, and sexually, she doesnt match him there either, and shes just jealous of his success, ignore her

[@pammaggio8135]

Wrong! It’s him That’s is a right Pratt…. I had a friend who danced with the troupe… they said his ego was bigger than any large country!

[@singer2be256]

Perhaps both sides genuinely think they were in the right and the real answer lies somewhere in between.

[@pammaggio8135]

@@singer2be256 good point!

[@booboo61]

​@pammaggio8135 late coming to this thread!!! I always thought this myself. But let's be honest to lead like he did. I guess he needed an ego & the self belief of an entire country. But now that's he is long married and a father, together with his serious health issues I think he may be a more mellow man. I hope so anyway!!@!😊

[@tfoley53]

The reason Irish dancers hold their arms rigid by their sides is to respect and commemorate the memory of millions that died in the Potatoe Famine in 1847-1849.

[@pammaggio8135]

Fact!!

[@patricew.4010]

I didn't know that....time to educate myself.

[@rardrioc6406]

Buineach bo

[@Wafaloo]

lol what

[@rardrioc6406]

@@Wafaloo cow scutter / shite

[@shellyabelieverinjesus8736]

It seems to me it took an American of Irish decent to change Irish dance JUST a WEE bit, to perfect it for performance. American ingenuity mixed with all that is Irish.

[@brendanduffy2205]

Damn straight!

[@leonaneill9391]

Michael is the best of the best in lrish dancing. 💚🤍🧡what Riverdance failed to remember was! that Michael is Riverdance...his deadly 😅🔝🤝🇮🇪

[@tonyodonnell7189]

Michael created a far better show with his Lord of the Dance and subsequent shows, he was a showman and never played it safe, never constrained by tradition or history , a benefit of growing up in America free of english oppression, well done Michael.........