Now, undoubtedly the most famous Irish dancer in the world, Michael Flatley has revealed that he was warned not to embarrass the Irish dance community by moving his arms.
On April 30, 1994, Michael Flatley and Jean Butler made history by performing "Riverdance" at the Eurovision Song Contest. Speaking to the BBC on "Riverdance's" 30th anniversary, Flatley admitted he was warned not to embarrass the Irish dance community on the night.
Flatley told the BBC "Right before I went on stage, they came to me beside the stage and said 'Please… we're getting calls from all the dance teachers.
"‘Please don’t wave your arms around, you’re going to make us look ridiculous in front of the world, so can we just ask you this time, whatever happens, can you keep your arms down?’ And I said no."
That evening's "Riverdance" performance changed the landscape of Irish dance around the world. Flatley said the reception was more than he could have imagined.
He told the BBC, "We nailed it, my dream. For years I was working on construction sites and digging foundations in Chicago. During those freezing cold winters, I was creating those steps, in my dance style, in my mind that whole time. That’s what got me through the hard, laborious work."
Flatley had worked as a builder in the US. After the 1994 Eurovision, he went on to sell out arena tours with "Riverdance". He also created his own show "Lord of the Dance".
He said all of this good fortune followed a difficult start in life.
"I got bullied at school terribly, so I know what young lads go through and it’s trying, it’s mentally difficult. It’s stressful to have to walk into school and hope somebody doesn’t say something negative to you."
He added that he hopes his career will make it easier for other young boys who want to dance.
Flatley said, "If you look at our dancers now in Lord of the Dance, the men are so powerfully built, they’ve taken it to a whole new level."
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