Top > Entertainment > 2006 > November > 2006-11-23

?Lord of the Dance?, Michael Flatley Dispels Rumors

Rumors that the American-Irish dance legend, Michael Flatley, is seriously ill have been dispelled after the 48 year-old walked out of London Hospital. Flatley was forced to cancel his entire Celtic Tiger show that was to have toured 20 major European destinations, after he fell ill two weeks ago. When he was admitted to the clinic, his spokespeople initially stated that the dancer was ?seriously ill? and that, as a result, he would need to cancel his tour.

Rumors were rife concerning the nature of Flatley?s illness, with many presuming that it was connected to the skin cancer that he discovered in 2003. However, Flatley?s people were quick to calm his fans by telling them that it was a viral infection that had caused him to be hospitalized and that it was not life threatening. Over the weekend, Flatley left the hospital with his wife and fellow-dancer, Niamh O?Brien whom he married in a lavish ceremony last month.

Michael Flatley is best known for his revival of Irish folkdance ? initially as a dancer with the ?River Dance? troupe and later with his own ?Lord of the Dance? show and, his latest endeavor, ?Celtic Tiger?, which dramatizes Ireland?s rich history. Although he was born in the United States, Flatley was of Irish heritage and always felt that Ireland was in his blood ? which explains his incredible success on stage with this genre of dance.