Flatley gets light on his feet for new show

FOR a while it looked as if he would have to focus his toe-twinkling energies on the art of belly dancing, but a faster, fitter, one-and-a-half stone lighter Michael Flatley is again living up to his surname.

Flatley In 2002 his fan base, which stretches from Youghal to Yakutsk, collectively recoiled at gut-wrenching images of the dance lord showing his not inconsiderable, well, gut.

By his own admission Flatley, more Lard than Lord of The Dance, had at that time developed a fondness for leotard-challenging burgers and beer.

In between shows the occasional Irishman, who has restored a country mansion outside Fermoy and has been known to sink a pint or two of high calorific stout while visiting there, has shown a propensity for paunch.

Once cruelly dubbed “Michael Fatley” by the sans-fans who saw the pictures of him lying bloated on a tropical beach, he is now sporting his lighter, livelier pre-show physique.

In preparing for his comeback after a five-year absence from the stage, the 45-year-old underwent a strict diet/exercise regime.

Taking time out to holiday in the south of France, the multi-millionaire was happy to publicly parade his tanned and trimmed torso.

“There is a small part of me that would prefer to be having a cheeseburger and a beer with my mates,” he said.

That small part could blossom into a bigger part once his latest extravaganza of dance and prance is over.

The new show will open in the USA next March, then it will open globally.

On the subject of Flatley and fat, the last word has to go to Shane MacGowan who was once infamously quoted as saying - “Oh! Michael Flatley was a huge influence on me. He made me puke, he made me puke so much that I lost weight.”