Flatley says his self-belief is mistaken for arrogance

Michael Flatley's life story can be effectively summed up in one of his favourite sayings: Follow your dreams - anything is possible.

It was this homespun philosophy that fuelled his rise from poorly-paid building worker to multi-millionaire artist and impresario.

His apparently unshakeable confidence - some have called it arrogance - has seen him through numerous professional setbacks and earned him a reputed personal fortune of more than �250m.

Flatley's strong determination to succeed has its roots in his childhood in Chicago in the US.

Born in July 1958 to Irish immigrants, his slight build and strong accent as a boy led to his father enrolling him in boxing lessons so he could learn self-defence.

In a foretaste of future accomplishments, he excelled at the sport and went on to become a Golden Gloves champion.

Lord of the Dance broke box office records

Aged 11, he enrolled at an Irish dance school in Chicago, honing the natural talent inherited from his mother and grandmother - both had been prize-winning Irish dancers.

At 17 he became the first US citizen to win the title of all-world Irish dancing champion, the first in a long line of similar accolades.

At the same time he was demonstrating his intuitive gift as a flautist, winning the first of many all-Ireland flute championships.

Flatley graduated from high school and opened an Irish dance school, but returned to construction work while pursuing his ambition to become a professional dancer.

Crowd-pleasing

During the 1980s he was invited to tour with traditional Irish band The Chieftains.

He began to mould his contemporary vision of Irish dance, incorporating arm movements and crowd-pleasing rhythms into traditional steps.

Flatley's big breakthrough came on 30 April 1994 during the interval of the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin.

Millions around the world flocked to the shows

His troupe's seven-minute Riverdance routine was a sensation that captivated the theatre audience and millions of TV viewers around the world.

It was an instant phenomenon, going on to become a full-length show that toured the globe.

But on the eve of its triumphant return to London in October 1995, Flatley was sacked in a falling out over money and his creative input.

Less than two weeks later he was choreographing, producing and directing his own work, Lord of the Dance.

It premi�red in Dublin in July 1996 and went on to sell out venues around the world - including a run of 21 shows at London's Wembley Arena.

Next up was Feet of Flames, the "turbo charged" version of the show involving 100 dancers, a full band and chorus and Flatley's a cappella solo.

It would have been easy for me to sit back and do nothing. My houses and cars are paid for, I do not owe anyone anything Michael Flatley

Wherever the stage tours went they smashed box office records, playing to four million in western Europe alone.

Flatley, now 44, announced his retirement in July 2001 in Dallas, Texas - finally resting the legs that were insured by Lloyds of London for �25m.

But despite his enormous wealth and the success that has bought him sumptuous homes in London, France and Ireland, it is not in Flatley's nature to rest on his laurels.

Self-confidence

Five months after giving up the stage he was busy planning to float his management company on the stock market.

"It would have been easy for me to sit back and do nothing," he said. "My houses and cars are paid for, I do not owe anyone anything.

"But this is not about the money. It is about doing something special, something that has class."

Batting off accusations of arrogance, Flatley says people mistake his self-confidence for ego.

Whatever it is that drives him, one of showbiz's biggest rags-to-riches stories shows no signs of faltering.

In November his revamped show starring Noah O'Brien began a $250m (�158m) sell-out residency in Las Vegas.

Forever clad in his trademark designer black, he says he still cannot regard himself as a superstar.

"The first 35 years of my life were not easy. I spent a lot of time digging ditches, water lines and foundations.

"That has served me well now that I have the money. I never lost the belief that things would go well for me."