Flatley beats legal bid to block involvement in Lord of the Dance

World famous Irish dancer Michael Flatley has beaten a legal bid to bar him from involvement in future Lord of the Dance productions.

Entertainment company Switzer Consulting Ltd took legal action against Flatley and claimed he was in breach of an agreement reached in July 2024 for it to run the multi-million pound production.

The firm had obtained the temporary order banning the 67-year-old choreographer and retired performer from involvement in upcoming shows.

But on Thursday, a judge in Belfast refused to grant a full injunction and discharged the temporary injunction that was in place.

Mr Justice Simpson freed Flatley from the temporary injunction due to the risk he could ultimately suffer "potentially unquantifiable" lost revenue.

Flatley declared the outcome a "fantastic victory" in his wider legal battle with Switzer Consulting Ltd.

"I'm very pleased not just for myself, but for my dancers, my cast and crew and everyone who believed in me," Flatley said.

"The show goes on and we are going to lift the roof (in Dublin) on Thursday."

Switzer is suing Mr Flatley for alleged breach of a service agreement reached in July 2024 for it to run Lord of the Dance touring operation.

Flatley, who was born in Chicago to Irish parents, is the co-creator and former star of Riverdance, which originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.

After Eurovision, Riverdance was transformed into an arena tour.

Several years later Flatley developed his own show, Lord of the Dance.

Best-known for bringing Irish dancing to an international audience, the Irish-American hung up his dancing shoes in 2016.

He was treated for a malignant melanoma in 2003, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ. In January 2023, he underwent surgery after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

Earlier this month, the firm obtained an interim ex-parte order to stop Flatley from cancelling, postponing or interfering with the show.

When it returned to court to seek a further injunction a series of allegations were made about Mr Flatley's financial affairs.

The court heard he has received nearly £430,000 in royalties in a 15-month period after the agreement was signed.

The judge was told 268 performances of Lord of the Dance have been booked across Europe and North America.

It was claimed, however, that those shows have been put in jeopardy by Flatley's direct interference with the business.

Senior counsel for Switzer contended that the arrangement began to break down when Flatley "went on a solo run" towards the end of 2025, when he sought to restructure the deal.

"Mr Flatley demonstrates fleetness of foot with this new deal," the barrister submitted.

"Mr Flatley pirouettes on the 2024 licence agreement, and then is now seeking to soft shoe shuffle into 2026 with new arrangements altogether."

Switzer boss Joe Gallagher claimed in an affidavit that the dancer consistently stripped the business of money to support his personal lifestyle, while at the same time complaining that the show was being sold too cheap.

A letter sent by Flatley's former financial adviser examined during the hearing alleged he has a history of running tours at a loss and liquidating companies.

"Many promoters were reluctant to deal with Michael directly as he has an industry-wide reputation for not paying his bills," the correspondence stated.

The financial adviser stated that he has used other people's money to maintain a facade of wealth.

"Since 2019 Michael has lived the lifestyle of a Monaco millionaire without the funds to do so," the letter alleged.

"In the bluntest terms he was faking it on a multi-million euro scale."

The letter added that Flatley had an "insatiable" appetite for "lifestyle cash", borrowing thousands for his birthday party and to join the Monaco yacht club.

During the hearing it was contended that attempts were made to replace Switzer with the newly formed Feet of Flames company.

Flatley's legal team countered that a deed of trust shows he has a controlling shareholding in Switzer, a company they maintain is only entitled to a management agent's fee.

Under the terms of a five-year arrangement, it was to receive a monthly fee of £35k, rising to £40k after the first two years.

Flatley's barrister said the firm had carried out an attack on Flatley's character and ability to run a business which had nothing to do with the issues about the agreement.

He told the court his client had relied on his former financial adviser, with question marks raised over what the dancer understood to be signing up to.

Flatley was then informed following the agreement that the business was back in his full ownership, counsel stressed.

In court, questions were raised about Switzer's financial status amid claims it had no listed employees or money until fresh accounts were filed last Saturday which now show net assets of just over £2m.

Based on concerns about its solvency, Flatley's barrister questioned the company's ability to pay damages if it were to lose the case.

Backing those submissions, Mr Justice Simpson said he could not be satisfied that any pledge by the company to pay compensation if it ultimately loses the action was meaningful.

"If the court grants an injunction until trial of the action the potential losses to the defendant, who owns the intellectual property to Lord of the Dance which generates significant revenue, are potentially unquantifiable," the judge added.