Michael Flatley has an incredible gift as a dramatist for evoking emotion in audiences of all ages and backgrounds -- without a single word spoken. One of the most powerful examples of this is The Last Rose, from Celtic Tiger.
All of us at some point in our lives have gazed up at a painting and wondered about the world it portrays, marveling at the emotions that well up inside us. This simple act is something Michael turned into an entire number -- and it bears closer examination.
The Last Rose is an important number for a brace of reasons joined at the hip. First, it re-frames how you think of Michael. When you picture "Michael Flatley" in your head, you're picturing him dancing. But it's also important to remember he's one of the greatest flute players -- and certainly the most commercially successful -- in the world. Further, note how this number is staged: instead of front and center, Michael is off to one side, the creator letting others breathe life into his imaginings.
Which brings us to the second reason, and it again re-frames how we think of Michael. It's so easy to be caught up in his dancing -- in his stage performing -- that we forget that he is first and foremost a creator, whether in front of or behind the curtain.
"I'm very lucky in that I'm not the star of my own show," Michael once said about the making of Celtic Tiger. And, indeed, the same became true of Lord of the Dance in 2016 when he retired from stage performing entirely. He was remarkably prescient to see this coming: as far back as 1998, he was saying to the press how important it was to bring as many young people through the door with him as possible, to give them a chance to shine with the spotlight he'd created, and indeed at the turn of the millennium had up to four troupes performing simultaneously all over the world. Even as far back as 1996, shortly after Lord of the Dance originally opened, he would joke with the press: "Yes, I'm retiring, but in this business you have to give twenty years' notice."
Fun fact: Michael actually *did* give twenty years' notice.
While the rest of us are thinking moves ahead, Michael Flatley thinks *games* ahead. Since Eurovision '94, Michael has been the creative and commercial center of professional #IrishDancing, and today is the de facto Stan Lee of the #IrishDance world. While Michael Flatley the *dancer* retired half a decade ago, Michael Flatley the *creator* lives on -- and the wellspring of amazing concepts from that font of creativity continues to flow.
This year, 2021, is the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Dance. Who knows what that might bring?
#FollowYourDream
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