Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance Tour Returns to Over 45 U.S. Cities in 2011

Bill Clinton was President when Chicago native Michael Flatley created and launched Lord of the Dance (www.lordofthedance.com). Fifteen years later, the world's highest grossing Irish Dance show is still selling out arenas and theatres around the world. Generations of audiences - more than 160 million people from 68 countries - have seen Lord of the Dance. Presented by Magic Arts & Entertainment and Global Entertainment Group, the Lord of the Dance tour returns to North America beginning January 25 in Farmington, NM.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Lord of the Dance is offering a trip of a lifetime to U.S. residents. One lucky winner and a guest will win roundtrip airfare, hotel and VIP tickets (including a meet and greet with cast members) for the Trenton, NJ performance on March 17, 2011. Visit Lord of the Dance's Facebook page to find out how to enter and win: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelFlatleysLordoftheDance.

Lord of the Dance is a classic tale of good versus evil, based on Irish folklore that brings a passionate love story to life. Flatley, along with Dance Director Marie Duffy-Pask, hand picked the cast of over 40 dancers; each has achieved individual recognition as a national or worldwide dance champion. 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 based upon mythical Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, Lord of Darkness, challenges the ethereal lord of light, the Lord of the Dance. Battle lines are drawn, passions ignite and a love story fueled by the dramatic leaps and turns of dancers' bodies begins to build against a backdrop of Celtic rhythm. The action is played out over 21 scenes on a grand scale of precision dancing, dramatic music, colorful costumes and state-of-the-art staging and lighting.

Speaking on the success of the show, Flatley says, "It is really about our fans who are always hungry for Irish Dance." Flatley, also the Artistic Director who oversees all aspects of the production says, "Our dancers connect with the audience and have captivated a new generation. Fans appreciate that our dancers deliver a stunning interpretation of Ireland's most famous legends via an eclectic blend of dance styles rooted in traditional Irish dance."

Lee Marshall, president of Magic Arts & Entertainment, the tour promoter and veteran of blockbuster entertainment events agrees. "The championship dancers in our cast manage the impossible every night. Their collective spirit and energy takes audiences to a time and place that is as imaginative as it is inviting."

Flatley conceptualized and staged the show in a mere 16 weeks but also paid particular attention to the costumes, lighting and staging which are cinematic in scope. "Irish dance lovers and music fans alike will experience the engaging, rhythmic adventures that has helped catapult Celtic dance mania and Irish dancing into the global spotlight," says Flatley. No wonder Lord of the Dance has jettisoned its ticket sales to more than $800 million worldwide.

For more information, tickets or memorabilia, please visit www.lordofthedance.com. Find Lord of the Dance on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MichaelFlatleysLordoftheDance.

ABOUT MAGIC ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Magic Arts & Entertainment, headed by Lee D. Marshall and Joe Marsh is one of the foremost tour producing companies in the United States. As former owners of Magicworks Entertainment, Marshall and Marsh produced and promoted some of the world's most successful concerts, theatricals and family shows. In addition to Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, the company is also currently producing "The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis," "The Magic of David Copperfield," "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" on the road and on Broadway at The Neil Simon Theatre, "Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas" on Broadway at the Marriott Marquis Theatre as well as Green Day's "American Idiot" on Broadway at the St James Theater. Magic Arts & Entertainment has offices in Cleveland, OH and Salt Lake City, UT.

About Global Entertainment Group

Based in Las Vegas, Global Entertainment Group, Inc. has been part of the extraordinary worldwide success of Lord of the Dance since 1998. Global has booked or promoted the show in more than 30 countries where the show has been embraced by a variety of cultures and individuals from all walks of life. In addition, Global is actively involved in many other international entertainment productions, exhibits and live entertainment investments.

A tentative list of tour dates follows:

January 25 Farmington, NM Farmington CC
January 26-27 Mesa, AZ Mesa Arts Center
January 28-29 Phoenix, AZ Orpheum Theatre
January 30 Las Cruces, NM Pan American Center
January 31 Alto, NM Spencer Theatre
February 2 Topeka, KS Topeka PAC
February 3 Paducah, KY Carson Center
February 4 Wabash, IN Honeywell Center
February 6 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace
February 8-9 Lakeland, FL Lakeland Center
February 10 Key West, FL Tennessee Williams PAC
February 11-13 Naples, FL Philharmonic - Hayes Hall
February 14 Daytona Beach, FL Peabody Auditorium
February 16 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolf Aud
February 17 Spartenburg, SC Memorial Auditorium
February 18 Birmingham, AL Civic Center
February 19 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
February 20 Nashville, TN TPAC
February 22 Richmond, VA Landmark Theatre
February 23 New Philadelphia, OH Performing Arts Center
February 24 Saginaw, MI County Events Center
February 25 Kalamazoo, MI Miller Auditorium
February 26 Rosemont, IL Rosemont Theatre
February 27 South Bend, IN Morris Center
March 1 Cincinnati, OH Aronoff Center
March 2 Indianapolis, IN Clowes Hall
March 3 Youngstown, OH Powers Auditorium
March 5 West Point, NY Eisenhower Hall
March 8 Burlington, VT Flynn Center
March 9 Scranton, PA Scranton Cultural Center
March 10 Easton, PA State Theatre - CA
March 11 Rochester, NY Auditorium Center
March 12 Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre
March 13 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre
March 15 Erie, PA Warner Theatre
March 16 Syracuse, NY Crouse-Hinds Theatre
March 17 Trenton, NJ War Memorial
March 18 Elmira, NY Clemens Center
March 19 Buffalo, NY Shea's PAC
March 20 Binghamton, NY The Forum Theatre
March 22-April 2 CANADA
April 5 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre
April 6 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre
April 8-10 Biloxi, MS Beau Rivage