Michael Flatley has opened up about his past bullying (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Before he was a riverdance superstar, Michael Flatley was working on a building site – but he had no desire to tell his fellow construction workers about his love of dance.
The Lord of the Dance performer, 65, has said he feared being mocked by his co-workers after negative experiences and ‘terrible bullying’ in the past.
Fortunately for Flatley, he had the last laugh.
He was launched to stardom in the Irish dancing production Riverdance, which was first performed as a break in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.
Flatley then went on to create the megahit stage show Lord of the Dance.
In a new interview, the performer reflected on his roots and how the reception to his talents was more magical than he ever expected it to be.
The dance star has travelled the world with his shows and grossed millions (Picture: Con Keyes/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
‘We nailed it, my dream,’ he began to the BBC.
‘For years, I was working on construction sites and digging foundations in Chicago. During those freezing cold winters, I was creating those steps, in my dance style, in my mind that whole time.
‘That’s what got me through the hard, laborious work.’
When asked if he shared his passion for dance with his fellow employees, he laughed it off.
‘No! The big, muscly guys? Better not mention that I’m dreaming about dancing, probably not the right thing to do.’
We wonder what those ‘big, muscly guys’ would have to say now, given that his shows have played to more than 60million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1billion (£798,100).
Flatley had negative reactions to his love of Irish dancing growing up (Picture: Walter McBride/Getty Images)
While audiences have been wowed the world over thanks to Flatley’s stunning dancing, he didn’t have the easiest start.
Michael was catapulted to fame in the Irish dancing production Riverdance, which was first performed as a break in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. He then went on to create the megahit stage show Lord Of The Dance.
‘I got bullied at school terribly, so I know what young lads go through and it’s trying, it’s mentally difficult, it’s stressful to have to walk into school and hope somebody doesn’t say something negative to you,’ he shared.
Having paved the way, Flatley hopes that he will have made life a bit easier for boys who also want to dance.
‘If you look at our dancers now in Lord of the Dance, the men are so powerfully built, they’ve taken it to a whole new level.’
His candid discussion comes one year after Flatley revealed his devastating cancer diagnosis.
He revealed his ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis last year (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Last January, he shared his ‘aggressive’ illness with the world not long after undergoing treatment for the disease.
He praised the ‘excellent team of doctors’ who had looked after him.
A statement shared on his Instagram page said at the time: ‘Dear friends, we have something personal to share, Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
‘He has undergone surgery and is in the care of an excellent team of doctors. No further comments will be made at this time. We ask only for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you. 🙏🏻 Teamlord’.
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