A Talented Irish Dance Production

30 years of standing ovations. But did I get it?

Lord of the Dance certainly delivered on talent, energy and spectacle.

Before the performance even began, a stage-filling tribute to 30 Years of Standing Ovations set the scene, flanked by images honouring Naomi Flatley, Michael Flatley’s late wife and a former lead performer in Lord of the Dance.

A talented dancer who had followed her passion from a young age, Naomi’s life was cut tragically short. It was a poignant tribute to a woman whose own story was woven into the legacy of this production.

But despite the audience’s enthusiasm, I left feeling a little perplexed.

A magical flute player seemed to guide us between good and dark forces, with the story revolving around the Lord of the Dance belt. I’d expected more vibrant costumes and colour, but the production felt unexpectedly dark. 

The dancers were undeniably energetic and talented, and the audience was more than ready to applaud — with regular encouragement along the way! Yet, for me, the storyline fell short. And with the music so loud, we struggled to hear the toe-tapping rhythms that are such a magical part of Irish dance.

So, was it a spectacular performance that simply didn’t connect with me, or was I missing something?

I raised this recently in one of our shortest ever podcasts, because I just didn’t get it.   But sometimes, the most interesting theatre conversations begin with a difference of opinion.