Kilkenny dance teacher is leading lady at Lord of the Dance
Michael Flatley and his dance troupes delighted thousands of fans this week at the O2 in Dublin, however also stealing the show was Kilkenny dance teacher Bernadette Flynn as leading lady.
Michael Flatley led his sold out show in Dublin this week, where the theatrical spectacle was greeted with standing ovations and rapturous applause for more.
And Flatley did not disappoint giving his audience more and more and more.
The show premiered recently at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and has wowed audiences in prestigious venues such as Wembley Arena and the London O2.
Bernadette Flynn, originally from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, is the only original cast member to accompany Flatley on this tour and has been his leading lady for the past 14 years.
Her husband Damian O'Kane told the Kilkenny Advertiser that she was very excited and honoured to perform Lord of the Dance for the home crowd in Dublin as she knew it would be a very special experience for her.
In the past Michael Flatley has said of her: ?Dancing with Bernadette is like dancing with the air, you don't have to look and see where she is. You can feel her no matter where she is on the stage".
?I am very excited to dance again," Flatley added. ?I've created many shows but Lord of the Dance has a special place in my heart and I haven't performed in it since 1998."
Bernadette recently set up the Flynn O'Kane Academy of Dance with a location at the Dancewise Studios in Kilkenny city. The academy offers classes for children who wish to learn traditional Irish dance with a modern and contemporary feel. She hopes her students will gain from her varied experiences and, you never know, some may even follow in her footsteps.
For 14 years Lord of the Dance has captivated audiences around the world, playing to more than 60 million people in some 60 countries in every continent. Flatley was joined by a 40-strong cast.
Lord of the Dance starring Michael Flatley will play in venues throughout the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Source: Kilkenny Advertiser
By Naoise Coogan