The Chicago-born Irish dancer was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of cancer in 2023, and is now in remission after treatment. Flatley rose to stardom after a seven-minute performance at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which was extended to become the successful stage show Riverdance, and went on to create Lord Of The Dance, which had a record-breaking 21-date run at Wembley Stadium. Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he told presenters he was “feeling pretty good” as he prepared to take a new version of Lord Of The Dance show on a tour of the UK.
The 65-year-old said: “I think, for anybody who finds themselves in this position, the most important thing is a positive mental attitude. “Just be positive. I never entertained the possibility that this could be fatal in any way.
“I’ve always focused on the positive, and I surrender myself to the the lord and he saw me through this.” Flatley told presenters he blamed a 2016 house fire for the cancer, and added that he was “one of the most fit men in Ireland” for many years before the blaze, but claimed his health began to deteriorate afterwards. Presenters Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis pointed out the fire was not the official reason for Flatley’s diagnosis.
The Riverdance star discussed his latest Lord Of The Dance tour which begins in July and features holograms of Flatley. He added: “I perform in a hologram, so there’s three of me in different areas. “We do a dance-off against each other.