April 30th 2024.
In a recent interview, Michael Flatley shared some personal details about his past experiences with bullying. Before becoming a renowned riverdance superstar, Flatley worked on a building site. However, he never felt comfortable revealing his passion for dance to his co-workers. This was due to some negative experiences and "terrible bullying" he had faced in the past. But little did he know that he would eventually have the last laugh.
It all started when Flatley was launched into stardom with his performance in the Irish dancing production, Riverdance. This happened as a break in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. He then went on to create the hugely successful stage show, Lord of the Dance. In a recent interview, Flatley reflected on his humble beginnings and how the reception to his talents surpassed his wildest dreams.
The 65-year-old dance star has travelled the world with his shows, performing for millions of people and grossing millions of dollars. "We nailed it, my dream," Flatley proudly exclaimed in the interview with the BBC. He then went on to share that during his days of working on construction sites and enduring freezing cold winters in Chicago, he would create dance steps in his mind. This, he says, helped him get through the hard and laborious work.
When asked if he ever shared his love for dance with his co-workers, Flatley laughed off the idea. "No way!" he exclaimed, "The big, muscly guys? It's probably not the best idea to tell them that I dream about dancing." It's safe to say that those "big, muscly guys" would have quite a different reaction now, knowing that Flatley's shows have been seen by over 60 million people in 60 different countries and have grossed over $1 billion.
But it wasn't always smooth sailing for Flatley. Growing up, he faced negative reactions to his love for Irish dancing, which made it a challenging journey for him. Despite this, he continued to pursue his passion and eventually found huge success with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
"I got bullied at school terribly," Flatley shared, "so I know what young lads go through. It's mentally difficult and stressful to have to walk into school each day, hoping no one will say something negative to you." However, he hopes that by paving the way, he has made it easier for boys who also want to dance. He also added that the men in his dance troupe are now "powerfully built" and have taken Irish dancing to a whole new level.
In addition to sharing his past struggles, Flatley also opened up about his battle with cancer. Last year, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of the disease. He underwent surgery and was in the care of an excellent team of doctors. A statement shared on his Instagram page read, "We ask only for your prayers and well wishes." Luckily, Flatley has since recovered and is doing well.
If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing them, calling, or visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you. And if you're curious about Eurovision 2024, they have all the details for you, including dates, hosts, and how the UK is expected to perform. Also, check out Richard E Grant's incredible story of emigrating to London over 40 years ago – people are loving it!
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