In a surprising legal twist, the upcoming 30th-anniversary tour of the iconic dance production Lord of the Dance is facing a grave risk of falling apart if choreographer and dancer Michael Flatley is not permitted to engage with the performers. This revelation came to light during a court hearing in Belfast.
Flatley, the Irish traditional dancer who rose to international fame with his performance of Riverdance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, later went on to create the stage show The Lord of the Dance. The production’s 30th-anniversary tour is scheduled to kick off in Dublin’s 3Arena on February 5, with plans to continue throughout 2026 in several countries, including the UK, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
However, the tour’s future is now in jeopardy, as Switzer Consulting, the firm responsible for running the dance show, is taking legal action against Flatley for an alleged breach of contract. Switzer has already secured a temporary injunction to prevent Flatley from interfering with the show.
During the court hearing at the Chancery Court in the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast, Flatley’s barrister, John Coyle, argued that the upcoming shows in just two weeks are in “grave danger of falling apart” if Flatley is not allowed to communicate with the dancers on the tour. Coyle stated that the company is insolvent, and the “economic havoc” this move would inflict on Flatley would be “substantial.”
Furthermore, Coyle highlighted the importance of Flatley’s “artistic direction” as a vital component, stating that unless he can participate in the show, losses will inevitably be incurred. He also addressed recent media coverage of the case, stating that the reporting would be “libellous” if it was not a court document.
The judge clarified that the affidavit presented to the court is in the public domain and that the case is not being heard in front of a jury. Coyle informed the court that Flatley is currently not within the court’s jurisdiction but that an affidavit from him would be submitted by the next hearing, scheduled for January 27.
This legal battle over the future of the Lord of the Dance tour has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the highly anticipated 30th-anniversary celebrations, leaving fans and the dance community anxiously awaiting the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.
