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"Lord of the Dance" thrills millions worldwide

Dec. 5, 2005

KALAMAZOO--More than 50 million people worldwide have seen "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance," the international Irish dancing phenomenon that comes to Kalamazoo for a single show at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University.

"Lord of the Dance" has performed sold-out shows at theatres, arenas and stadiums in more than 45 countries. The Lord of the Dance troupe features Irish dance champions from around the world. These gifted performers, with an average age of 22, stretch every boundary of a traditional form of dance that has evolved over more than 2,000 years.

Irish Dance lovers and music fans alike will get a chance to experience the engaging, rhythmic adventure that has helped catapult Celtic dance mania and Irish dancing into the global spotlight.

Michael Flatley, who originated the role of the Lord, serves as artistic director and continues to oversee all aspects of the production. The first American to win the All-World Championship in Irish Dance, Flatley opened the show in Dublin in 1996. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Flatley for having "the world's fastest feet" at 35 taps per second.

Global ticket sales for "Lord of the Dance" have exceed $500 million. An estimated two million people attended "Lord of the Dance" during its highly acclaimed four-year residency in Las Vegas.

Described by the New York Post as "fascinating, rewarding and above all, entertaining," and by the Los Angeles Times as "a showpiece extravaganza," "Lord of the Dance" is a mesmerizing blend of traditional and modern Celtic music and dance. The story is a classic tale of good versus evil based on old Irish folklore, as Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord, challenges the Lord of the Dance.

Tickets for "Lord of the Dance" range from $20 to $45 and are available by calling (269) 387-2300 or toll free (800) 228-9858, online at www.millerauditorium.com, or by visiting the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office or the Epic Center Box Office in downtown Kalamazoo. Groups of 20 or more should call (269) 387-2312 for group rates.

Media contact: Thomas Cooper, (269) 387-2245, thomas.cooper@wmich.edu

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