See Lord of the Dance 3D

I highly recommend Lord of the Dance 3D, but it's only going to be in theaters a week -- and the week started on March 17, 2011.

No time to shilly shally, if you want to see fantastic dancing on the big screen in 3D.

Lord of the Dance 3D is a documentary about the 2010 reincarnation of the dance spectacular Michael Flatley created in 1996. The original premiered in Dublin and the movie emphasizes the show’s return to Dublin. There’s supplementary footage from live performances in London and Berlin, too.

Lord of the Dance - Oscar Night - 1997

Flatley not only created Lord of the Dance, he's choreographer, stage director, producer, and dance star. No wonder he's been the focus of attention for years. The first time around he was largely bare chested, but at 52, he's wearing shirts and jackets now.

A lot has been written about Flatley's ego, his cockiness, his grandstanding. But let's be fair; he's had quite a bit to be proud of.

When we think of Irish step dancing, most of us think of Riverdance, a production Flatley was involved in from the very beginning. But his dance history begins much earlier.

Born July 16, 1958 in Chicago to Irish immigrant parents, Flatley began dancing at 12 and, at about 17, became the first American, to win the All-Ireland World Championship for Irish dance. If you've seen this competition in action, you know that winning is no mean feat.

While still in high school he produced his own dance show and, after graduation, opened a dance school. Besides dancing, he's a trained amateur boxer and a proficient flute player, having twice won the All-Ireland Competition. (Flatley briefly displays his fluting prowess in Lord of the Dance 3D.)

At 20, he toured with Green Fields of America. In the 1980s he toured with The Chieftains.

In May 1989 (age 30), Flatley set a Guinness Book world record for tapping speed at 28 taps per second. He broke his own record for tapping speed in February 1998 (age 39), by achieving 35 taps per second.

Flatley was named one of National Geographic Society's Living Treasures in 1990, for mastery of a traditional art form by a living person. At the time he was the youngest person ever to have won this distinction.

Flatley choreographed the original Riverdance and led the show to acclaim as the seven-minute intermission act in the Eurovision Song Contest on April 30, 1994. He was 35 by then. When Riverdance developed into a full-length show Flatley starred. It was one of those seminal "overnight" successes.

After leaving Riverdance, Flatley produced, directed, and choreographed Lord of the Dance. Both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance were popular but Flatley and his dancing burst upon the pubic at large in March, 1997 when Lord of the Dance was performed and televised at the Oscars.

Later that year several troupes of dancers were formed to tour Lord of the Dance and in the summers of 1999 and 2000, Flatley contracted with Disney for Lord of the Dance to perform at Epcot in Walt Disney World.

Other successful shows and an autobiography have followed. During the course of Flatley's career, his awards and accolades have been too many to enumerate here. And his career isn’t over yet. It's fair to say that Michael Flatley has earned a certain right to act cocky. Those who find it annoying should just try to ignore it.
 
Lord of the Dance runs 135 minutes and is rated G.

For a trailer and a review see Michael Flatley - Still Flashy and Fast on His Feet in Lord of the Dance 3D"

You can also download a PDF listing venues - or check your local listings.