Feet of Flames

Feet of Flames
Directed by Michael Flatley
Music by Ronan Hardiman
Date premiered 1998
Genre Irish Dance

Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames is an Irish dance show directed by Michael Flatley and scored by Ronan Hardiman.[1]

History

Hyde Park

Michael Flatley was made famous by the Irish dancing troupe show Riverdance as a soloist.

The Hyde Park show was first created for Flatley's last show as the "Lord of the Dance", the show was a one-off performance in London's Hyde Park on 25 July 1998, playing to approximately 25,000 people. The show itself closely resembles its predecessor, Lord of the Dance. However this show merges troupes, adds new numbers, and a new stage with multi-level tiers for the dancers for the finale. Amongst the new numbers is Flatley's solo – "Feet of Flames", which the show is based around. The show introduced some of the key elements that are now featured when Flatley performs. His silver-heeled shoes made by Freed's of London were used for the first time in this show. TV screens on both sides of the stage were also installed and now used in all the shows that feature Flatley. Film of the Hyde Park show was later distributed on VHS and DVD.

2000 World Tour

On 21 September 1999 Michael Flatley announced a Feet of Flames world tour for 2000. This tour began on Wednesday, 1 March 2000, in Germany. The show differed significantly from the original 1998 version. The show had new numbers, new leads, a new story line and a "whole new outlook" in the words of Flatley. Both the original female leads Bernadette Flynn and Gillian Norris were replaced by Sarah Clark and Leigh Ann McKenna. Daire Nolan was replaced by Stephen Brunning. Both Daire Nolan and Gillian Norris went on to pursue their own careers after the 1998 show. Bernadette Flynn left to dance with Lord of the Dance troupe one until 2001. Some of the characters changed slightly in the show. Lord of the Dance became Firespirit, Saroise became The Swan and Morrighan the Temptress became Cleopatra. The Dark Lord was remained but there are sayings that they still used Don Dorcha as the name. Helen Egan's part as the little spirit became the Court Jester in the World Tour. The Highlight of the 2000 tour was Flatley and the Troupe performing in Budapest to over 100,000 people. The European part of the 2000 World Tour concluded on 29 July 2000 in Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2001 "Victory Tour"

The 2001 tour, dubbed the "USA Victory Tour", had a preview show on 6 June 2001 in the Bi-Lo Center, Greenville, South Carolina. The tour officially began on 8 June 2001 in the AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Florida. The highlight of the tour was Michael Flatley performing for the first time in Madison Square Garden in New York City on 29 June 2001. The Victory Tour ended on 29 July 2001 in Dallas, Texas in the American Airlines Center, the second event to be held at the venue. The last time the Feet of Flames world tour was performed was 29 July 2001. Michael Flatley was said to have retired that night but later in 2005 would come out with a new show, Celtic Tiger.

2008 and 2009 Tour

Feet of Flames returned to the world stage for a brief period with lead dancers Damien O' Kane and Bernadette Flynn leading the helm. This would mark the first time in the show's history that Michael Flatley would not be starring or dancing in it. This show featured dances/costumes from 1998 Hyde park version. Later in 2009 Flatley would return in the lead role.

2009

In 2009, Michael Flatley reprised his role in the 2009 tour held in the Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan. It was filmed for DVD and later released as said in his website. It was also released on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by Playback HD in 2010.

CD, VHS and DVD releases

Flatley as Lord of the Dance during his return

The Feet of Flames show from Hyde Park in 1998 was put on VHS and DVD. A CD of the new music from the Hyde park show was released with the DVD. The Budapest show in 2000 was recorded for an actual full show DVD release. However, this never happened for unknown reasons but clips of the show were put on Michael Flatley's autobiography/concert DVD Michael Flatley Gold. Included on the DVD are the numbers:

The show was also recorded at certain venues during the 2001 Victory Tour in the USA. The Madison Square Garden show on 29 June 2001 in New York City as well as the American Airlines Center show on 29 July 2001 in Dallas, Texas were recorded. The American leg of the tour was filmed for an IMAX planned for release in 2002. In addition parts of the footage were going to be used in a film featuring Michael Flatley. The working title for the film was supposedly "Dream Dancer", a fictional love story. Clips of the rehearsal process for the movie can be found on Michael Flatley Gold. The film was, however, never completed. The original film from the shows in allegedly tied up in ownership dispute between the filming company and Michael Flatley's company Unicorn Entertainment.

The 2009 Taiwan tour was filmed for an actual DVD release and later released on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk in 2010

The chanting of the monks from the "Court of High Kings" (Victory Tour) is sampled on Michael Flatley's flute album "On A Different Note" released March 2011.

Credits for the 1998 DVD

Musicians

  • Fiddles – Cora Smyth and Máiréad Nesbitt
  • Bass Guitar – Eammon Byrne
  • Keyboard – Paul Drennen
  • Drums – Jason Duffy (1998 Hyde Park concert)
  • Drums – Gary Sullivan (2000 World tour and 2001 Victory tour)
  • Pipe whistle – Gerard Fahey
  • Guitar – Dave Keary
  • Choir Leader – John Mckeon

1998 show

Leading roles

Numbers

The Warriors
The Warlords

Act I

1. Cry of the Celts

2. Erin the Goddess – Marble Halls

3. Celtic Dream

4. The Warriors

5. Gypsy

6. Dance Above The Rainbow (Instrumental)

7. Dueling Violins [Instrumental]

8. Breakout

9. Warlords

10. Erin the Goddess – Maighdean Mhara

11. The Lord of the Dance (Instrumental)

Act II

12. The High Priests

13. Whispering Wind

14. Dance of Love

15. Dangerous Game

16. Hell's Kitchen

17. Spirit's Lament

18. Fiery Nights

19. The Lament

20. Celtic Fire

21. Siamsa

22. Erin the Goddess – Carrickfergus

23. Stolen Kiss

24. Nightmare

25. The Duel [Instrumental]

26. Victory (instrumental)

27. Feet of Flames

28. Planet Ireland [Instrumental]

2000/2001 World Tour

Leading roles

Numbers

Act I

1. The Court of the High Kings

2. Firedance

3. The Irish Queen – an Maghdainn Mara (Instrumental)

4. Dance of the Swans

5. Warriors

6. Cleopatra's Spell

7. Fire Strings

8. Strip Jig [Instrumental]

9. Warlords

10. The Irish Queen – Marble Halls

11. Kaleidoscope

12. Celtic Fire

Act II

13. The High Kings

14. The Jester's Capture

15. Hell's Kitchen

16. Shalamar

17. The Swan's Dream

18. Thunder and Lightning

19. The Irish Queen – Carrickfergus

20. Stolen Kiss

21. Jester's Nightmare

22. The Duel

23. Victory March [Instrumental]

24. Victory Dance (Instrumental]

25. Feet of Flames (Instrumental)

26. Planet Ireland (Instrumental)

References

  1. ↑ BBC
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