Lord of the Dance offers fancy footwork this Friday
More than 60 million people from 68 countries have seen Lord of the Dance, the highest-grossing Irish dance show in the world created in 1996 by Michael Flatley.
The show is coming to the Milwaukee Theatre on Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Lord of the Dance is a love story of good versus evil based on mythical Irish folklore with more than 40 dancers handpicked by Flatley.
Twenty-year-old Zachary Klingenberg is the lead dancer with the challenging task of filling Flatley's shows. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Klingenberg spent 15 years training and has won the Midwest Regional Championship, placed second in the North American Championship and placed eighth at the World Championship.
He graduated from Bexley High School in Columbus in 2010, and has been dancing with Lord of the Dance since.
OnMilwaukee.com recently chatted with Klingenberg over the phone about the challenges and joys of professional Irish dancing and life on the road.
OnMilwaukee.com: How long have you been Irish dancing?
Zachary Klingenberg: For 15 years. My family saw a production on St. Parick's Day (many years ago) and they enrolled my older brother in dance classes. Then my younger brother and I started taking classes, too. I was about 5 at the time. They both danced until they were freshman in high school, but I kept going.
OMC: How did you get the job with Lord of The Dance?
ZK: It was similar to applying to college. I mailed in a video and an application. Mr. Flatley reviews all of the applications and videos and a tour manager contacted me and asked me to join the show a week after I graduated from high school.
OMC: How long did it take you to learn the routine?
ZK: It took about a month of very rigorous training. Then, my first tour – which was three years ago – was in Taiwan.
OMC: Have you met Mr. Flatley?
ZK: Yes, I've met him in person. He did some of the training and he gives us a lot of advice. He really pushes you to be your absolute best.
OMC: What is your favorite …
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