Michael Flatley to Be Feted for Humanitarian Efforts Tonight at LORD OF THE DANCE: DANGEROUS GAMES

BroadwayWorld has just learned that iconic Irish dancer Michael Flatley will be celebrated tonight, December 18, at 7:30 p.m. at LORD OF THE DANCE: DANGEROUS GAMES, playing at Broadway's Lyric Theatre. United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), in collaboration with Global Millennium Development Foundation (GMDF) and SWW Creative, will host a special performance of the show.

Trailblazing Irish dancer Michael Flatley is the creator of the internationally recognizable brand Lord of the Dance which singlehandedly brought Irish Dance to a global audience with productions in countless countries around the world for over two decades. The evening is dedicated to the theme-"Living Together in Inclusive Societies: Celebrating Peace and Humanity through the Power of Dance and Music."

In recognition of Mr. Flatley's unprecedented achievements in dance and his dedication to global humanitarian work, GMDF and its partner NGO, World Association of Former United Nations Internes and Fellows (WAFUNIF), are honored to recognize him as their Goodwill Ambassador.

"The ideals of peace, prosperity and inclusiveness for all have a lot in common with great dancing. Because great dancing is not about satisfying the ego - it is "an offering" of your gifts. Dance is a vehicle for promoting peace, as it disregards both geographical borders and social classes. Dance is indeed a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and networks, and to promote solidarity, non-violence, tolerance and justice"- said Ms. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.

"Both the Alliance and the Foundation have common goals and ideals: peace, harmony among nations and cultures, inclusiveness, tolerance and partnerships involving Governments, civil society and the private sector. Together we are raising public support towards the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect,"- underlined by Mr. Nassir Abdelaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative of UNAOC.

"Having this fascinating performance this evening is a reflection of the Alliance's engagement in the fields of sports, music, ART and entertainment, to explore ways in which the UNAOC and the entertainment industry can join forces and mobilize public support for Peace and Development, while promoting a culture of tolerance and respect," he added.

Mr. Michael Flatley said he is "so greatly honored to be hosting this evenings performance for the Permanent Missions of the United Nations, civil society and the private sector, in cooperation with all UNAOC and GMDF, as we all share the a common goal of peace through music, art and dance."

"Together, we can rise to the call of the UN Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, reaffirm human rights, and promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom," concluded Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

Mr. Flatley headlines the Broadway engagement of LORD OF THE DANCE: DANGEROUS GAMES in what will mark his final onstage appearances-including an upcoming national arena tour in early 2016-as a performer following a remarkable 20 year run as the creator and star of the Lord of the Dance franchise. Performances on Broadway began on November 7, 2015 for a strictly limited engagement through January 3, 2016.

LORD OF THE DANCE: DANGEROUS GAMES, which has already performed to sold-out audiences at the Playhouse Theatre in London and the Lyric Theatre in New York, will kick off its national tour at the BB&T Center in Florida and visit to major cities in the U.S. including Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, among many others. The Show features a troupe of Irish Dance's most accomplished performers, as well as Flatley protégés Morgan Comer, James Keegan and Fergal Keaney in the title role of the "Lord of the Dance." The show also features exciting and ground-breaking new technology, including holographs, special effects lighting, dancing robots, world champion acrobats and, of course, the greatest team of Irish Dancers in the world. The score is composed by Gerard Fahy.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride