Michael Flatley - Feet of Flames

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Summary: MICHAEL FLATLEY's DANCE MOVES SET MY IRISH HEART ON FIRE
Review: After Lord of the Dance, my Irish came out. I was so uplifted with that video, I just couldn't wait for the next, and the next. This video is beyond comparison. It's Michael at his IRISH BEST.

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Summary: Great Show. But Michael...Get Rid of that Hat!
Review: I'll admit it. I'm envious and stand in awe of Michael Flatley's talent almost as much as he does. But I wish that marketing for the video suggested that one was buying an improved "Lord of the Dance" instead of what appears, on its face, to be something else. (Try and find the words "Lord of the Dance" on the video cover, front or back, or set the original LOTD side-by-side with FOF and I defy anyone to get the impression that we are talking about the same show. With apologies to Steve Martin, I would have bought this video if it were called "Happy Feet.") I think someone gave Mr. Flatley some bad advice about how to sell a few extra copies of the new video. (NB: Compare Riverdance and Riverdance at Radio City Music Hall.) As an Irish-American from Chicago who likes girls, which are about the only comparisons I can ever enjoy making with Mr. Flatley, I felt wonderfully entertained...but a little bit fooled which unfortunately served to detract a bit from from this magnificent production. But a final positive word: the moves Michael puts on that drop-dead gorgeous blond with the electric violin during that thundering joy of a finale was worth the price of the video. Erin Go Bump & Grind!

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Summary: A feast for the senses, 2 hours of magic, a must for Xmas.
Review: Feet of Flames - the show - was devised & presented by Michael Flatley & his team as Michael's personal farewell to the role of 'Lord of the Dance'. It was intended not just as a show, but a total experience. Presented on a 300 foot wide. 3-tiered stage erected in London's Hyde Park, as dusk fell & a new moon rose, before an audience of 25,000, for one performance only, the show was intended to, & succeeded in, making Dance History. To capture this experience & present it on videotape using only live footage is an extraordinary technical & artistic achievement, of which all concerned in it's direction & production can be justly proud. The simple story of the 'Lord of the Dance'. based on Celtic myth, & told purely in dance & music, was powerfully presented in the original video, but this new film goes much further. Hard though it was to believe when watching 'Lord of the Dance' that this company had been formed & trained in a few months from young dancers still at, or just out of school, it becomes more credible when you see how they have matured as dancers & as a company since that risky beginning. Two companies are combined in this performance, & their dancing, timing, & stagecraft are truly admirable. Helen Egan, who dances 'The Little Spirit', Bernadette Flynn (Saiorse, the Irish Colleen), & Gillian Norris (The Morrigan) have all fulfilled their earlier promise & each is worthy of whatever the Irish Dancing equivalent of 'Prima Ballerina' may be. Daire Nolan (Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord), one of the more mature dancers in the original production is as commanding as ever, while Anne Buckley - again one of the mature artists in 'Lord of the Dance' sings as blythely, yet looks younger than she did 2 years ago. Blonde fiddlers Mairead Nesbit & Cora Smyth are as stunning as ever, their musicianship is astounding. In 'Feet of Flames' there are innovations - gone is the Goddess Erin, with her flowing emerald cape. Anne Buckley is showcased in a different fairytale gown for each of the three performances she gives of well-loved folk songs. The choir Dun, with soloist John McKeon, formerly heard but not seen, is given their own dramatic number, as chanting High Priests in dark robes, & later appear on the upper stage, like the druids of old overlooking the battleground, during the dramatic Hell's Kitchen. In 'Breakout', the famous scene much criticised by traditionalists, in which the demure Irish Colleens strip to their underwear after being taunted by the Morrigan, they start out wearing traditional Irish Dancing competition costumes! The famous Flute Jam - added after the LOTD video was made, to showcase the individual instrumentalists - for this show always has a live band! - and Michael Flatley on flute, is included. There is a new pub-style dance for the whole company, ' Dance Over the Rainbow', in the first half. Michael plays his own solo flute composition 'Whistle Down the Wind' as an Entr'acte, and then plays for a solo hard-shoe dance by Bernadette , entitled 'Dance of Love'. Altogether there are many new costumes, & while some have criticised the cape worn by Daire Nolan to increase the villainy of his appearance, I liked it, althoug he obviously found it a bit of a nuisance. The show seemed to me more balanced than 'Lord of the Dance', where Michael Flatley's obvious experience & maturity, both as a person & a dancer was thrown into sharp relief by the immature, albeit brilliant, performances by the rest of the cast. Here things were on a more equal footing, and the overall effect was smoother for it. Not that there is any doubt of Michael Flatley's prowess! The title number 'Feet of Flames' is the most extraordinary display of male dancing I have ever seen - & at 60 I have seen a lot of male dancers, including Nureyev's 'Corsaire'. It cannot be described - it has to be seen to be believed! Flatley's creative & symbolic choreography, in partnership with Ronan Hardiman's , which puts Irish music firmly into the World Music class, is fully complemented by the thorough attention to every detail of the lighting, scenery, staging, costumes, & pyrotechnics. The rich symbolism used has been well-researched, & whether subtle & apparent only to the Celtic scholar, or very obvious, as in the colours of Anne Buckley's gown, & the 3 -tiered stage for the final scene, 'Planet Ireland', consitutes a powerful subliminal continuity throughout the performance & afterwards. The audience shots were varied, & carefully chosen to give the feeling of the experience of 'being there'. One picture that stays with me is of a child small enough to be held by his father, face totally rapt, aborbed & transported by wonder. This show is not about a new story - like all the best stories, we all know how it ends. But these are the stories we like to be told again & again, the myths & fairy-tales of old. No-one is too old or too cynical to remain unmoved by them, especially when so skilfully re-told. This film is a feast for all the senses, 114 minutes of magic, a modern mystery play. From the thrilling lead up to the first scene, to the final wistful notes of Michael Flatley's solo flute, I was spellbound - I almost forgot that this was the video, not the live show.

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Summary: BRILLIANT!! BREATHTAKING!!
Review: Michael Flatley, as he pursues his dream of a really BIG dance show, fortunately takes us along for the ride. This culmination of the artistic dreams of the man who has almost single-handedly changed the face or Irish Dance is staggering in it's breadth and color. Ronan Hardiman's music is soul stirring. Makes you wonder what these men can do next!

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Summary: Much, much talent and extravaganza. Exciting.
Review: Of course, the art of Michael and his troupe is without question 5 stars and more. I think the event was too big for video. I loved Burnadette's new dance. She's more than lovely. Gillian super, but I liked her original dancing in first video better. The cameras moved to fast, you couldn't fix on anyone's performance too many times. Did not care for so many shots from way back, you couldn't see the show! Michael's talent is historical. But, crawling? Michael! I will treasure FOF, but prefer LOTD.

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Summary: Excellent! This video is the one you should buy for 1998!
Review: From beginning to end there is nothing to disappoint. The main leads have their own solos. The Dark Lord is a powerful dancer imbuned with grace and style. The Colleen is unbelievably talented. The Temptress is exotic. The innocently child-like Little Spirit is played to perfection. The Lord of the Dance has an aura of masculinity and power. All of the rest of the dancers are obviously extremely skilled, talented and a joy to watch. Erin the Goddes has the voice of an angel. The choir of hooded "Monks" is a wonderfully moving contrast to the Goddess. The Lord of the Dance's flute solo is the music of angels!

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Summary: One of the best Irish dance extravaganzas I've seen!
Review: Michael Flatley has amazed me once again with Feet of Flames. This high energy show just has to be seen to be believed. The intricate footwork by the over 100 dancers and the absolute precision of their steps is breathtaking. The melody of Michael Flatley's flute solo "Whispering Wind" will bring a tear to your eye. This is an absolute MUST HAVE video!

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Summary: Michael Flatley leads Irish Dance into the New Millenium
Review: The groundbreaking dancing of Michael Flatley highlights this spectacular show featuring over 100 dancers who will leave you breathless with their incredible precision and flawless footwork. Anne Buckley's vocals are pure ear candy. The Lord of the Dance Fiddlers and Musicians will have you clapping and stomping along with them and the new music of Ronan Hardiman proves that lightning can strike twice as he brings us more of his hypnotizing Celtic score. This is Lord of the Dance as Michael always wanted it to be with new costumes, music and numbers in a concert under the stars in Hyde Park in London. Michael's brilliant Feet of Flames Solo will leave you speechless and his haunting flute rendition of his own composition Whispering Wind will move you to tears. This show will leave you clamoring for more from the amazing Flatley whose innovative choreography is perhaps the reason all things Celtic are enjoying worldwide popularity. Pure genius!

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Summary: Go get it RIGHT NOW! FANTASTIC!
Review: Michael Flatley has produced the best ever Irish dance show in the world with Feet of Flames. The dancing is fast and expressive with gorgeous costumes. You will experience a whirlwind of emotions when you watch the story unfold. Ronan Hardiman THE most talented composer (IMHO)has brought the dances to life once more. Absoultely brilliant! Well?? What are you waiting for??? Go get it!

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Summary: Far Better than Riverdance!
Review: When I saw FOF for the very first time I just completely fell in love! I have seen the original Lord of the Dance and it was so amazing to see how much the lead dancers and how much all of the other dancers have improved and grown into their roles. All of the new dances and songs are beautiful and entertaining as well. Michael Flatley has certainly outdone himself and it's sad that it's his last show, but it was an incredible finish!!