Dancing with the stars

As he walks towards me there is no mistaking him. ‘Hi, I’m Michael Flatley.’ He introduces himself as if I might not know, as if he isn’t one of the modern legends of dance. Is he one of the most down-to-earth, unassuming men in showbiz?

Since I was a little girl I have loved performing. I always auditioned for the school and university plays, and joined the choir and took part in dance classes. In 2011, lover of all things vintage, from clothes to cars to music, I decided it was about time I learnt how to dance to the music of the musicians I adored, and started to attend swing-dancing lessons.

Last year my lindy-hop dance group performed on The Mall as part of the Beating Retreat celebrations in front of Prince William. But now I’m standing on the stage of London’s Dominion Theatre opposite the Lord of the Dance. Just the two of us. I can barely contain my excitement, and Ally, our intern, is struggling to keep her hands steady as she records a video that you can now watch on our website – a video of me and Michael. As I said, I can barely contain myself.

I am here to learn some steps from him and James Keegan, the man who will soon take the title of Lord of the Dance. The plan is that I will perform a dance with James in front of Michael and he will tell me how I get on. Or not! In 2004, at the age of 17, James established himself as the youngest ever lead in the history of Lord of the Dance, after joining the production only 10 months earlier. So, no pressure!

 

During my four years of devoted swing dancing, I’ve tried my hand at tap lessons only three times, in each case without much success. Despite this, I am praying that my swing experience and (borrowed) tap shoes might help. Before I meet James, Michael has agreed to personally teach me some steps.

Holding my hand, Michael leads me out to the middle of the stage to teach me a few moves. He shows me the steps at his own fast pace first – he holds the world record for the most number of taps in a second: 35. So that’s quite fast. Thankfully, he then slows it down so I can get the hang of it, and then, as if by magic, Michael and I are dancing together. I am dancing with Michael Flatley. Can I just say that again? I am dancing with Michael Flatley. And, to my delight, he praises me! ‘You’re picking it up as well as some of the girls in the show!’

We practise the short routine several times, Michael cheering me on and smiling. ‘Wait till the King sees you,’ he says, referring to James.

When James arrives I grab my tap shoes and am ready to go. He shows me the little routine we will be performing together, which, again, is at breakneck speed and I am terrified that I will have no chance of picking it up. Luckily, like Michael, he also slows it right down for me. Having run through the routine twice, he breaks it down into smaller parts and I start to try the moves myself. Before I know it, I’ve done the first part of the routine, with only a few hiccups. ‘I’m really impressed at how quickly you’re picking it up,’ he exclaims.

Michael reappears to see what I’ve managed to learn. As James counts us in and I do the steps, I’m delighted to hear him clapping and cheering. For anyone who loves dance, being told, ‘That was great!’ by Michael is an unbeatable feeling. The smile still hasn’t budged from my face two weeks later. Sadly, though, all good things James makes it look easy James watches as Melonie learns her steps Left and below: Lord Of The Dance performers in rehearsal and on stage have to come to an end, with Michael and James due on stage for the evening’s show – part of the last tour the Lord of the Dance will ever perform. James will carry on, and inherit Michael’s crown. He certainly deserves it.

And just in case he needs a dancing partner, I’m available!