Lord of the Dance 1996 OG Troupe: Breakout Rehearsal (RARE)

The original #LordOfTheDance was an atomic bomb when it first came out -- and one of its boldest statements is Breakout.

There's a lot happening in this number. For starters, it's the only dedicated female hardshoe number in the show. It's also the only direct conflict we see in the first act; by this point, we've been introduced to all five protagonists and the main factions, so now we see a clash between Saoirse and Morrighan, setting up the much larger conflict that emerges during Stolen Kiss in the second act. Saoirse shows that she has fire and *sass* in her as well as grace, while Morrighan can only look on in sullen rage.

There's also the meta-story surrounding Breakout as a statement piece. For anyone under the age of 25 who's grown up in a world where commercial #IrishDancing has always existed, Breakout has some impact -- but for the older generations, it's a *massive* impact. Remember, pre-Flatley #IrishDance was a sexless, joyless affair; one need only look at the Dance Halls Act of 1935, along with the well-known efforts of the clergy to stamp out anything even remotely suggestive, to see how tightly controlled the dancing had become. (For additional discussion on this topic, see Gay Byrne's Late Late Show 1998 tribute to Michael, as well as Lord Melvyn Bragg's South Bank Show episode dedicated to Michael. Both discuss this subject in detail.)

Thus, a major element of Lord of the Dance's initial success was its shock value. Unlike Michael's first show -- a somewhat austere theatre experience focused on technical exhibition, but an important first step nonetheless -- Lord of the Dance was (and is) dressed as a full-throttle rock concert, gleefully breaking every rule you could think of. Go back and watch the original 1996 video; that audience -- an Irish audience in Dublin -- is losing their minds watching every single number for the first time because they just hadn't seen *anything* like it before. Here was accelerated hardcore Irish dancing that was sexy, young, brash, in your face, and utterly delighted in setting the rule book on fire.

Here, for the first time ever, see the legendary OG Troupe -- the best Irish dancers in the world, fearless, handpicked by Michael -- rehearsing Breakout. Today, almost 25 years later, it's a statement that still echoes.

Planet Ireland arises: 2021.

#FollowYourDream

[charlesevanstar]

I am LOVING these videos!!! Heaven forbid Riverdance actually released any cool stuff like this! Thank you Michael for posting all of this amazing footage of your amazing creation, Lord of The Dance! Would love to see a rehearsal video for Cry of The Celts!

[ashnkksmom]

How are they able to just spring up like they do. It’s not a jump or leap it’s as if they have springs on the feet. Absolutely gorgeous to watch.

[karendagostino]

All you Lady's are in great timing when you all dancing alone or together, and you can also keep up to. Thank You for your great dancing.

[anabeatrizgoncalves]

Amazing! I love this show 🥰 greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[yolobarbara]

Thank you please more videos like this one

[sarahdean]

Wow love it thankyou for posting this for use to enjoy hope theirs many more to enjoy

[_treasure]

My favorite number from the show as I love hardshoe so much.

[richardwear]

The inspired creativity and Irish dance artistry of Michael Flatley and the dance troupe is as exciting, uplifting and fresh today as it was when he premiered Lord of the Dance in 1996!

[cdtapado]

Wow actual history being made. Is there footage of the very first audition where they could not even walk after it was over.

[christiank.r.]

PURE PERFEKTION EHRLICH DANKE DAFÜR GRUSS CHRISTIAN 1 8 8 7

[BarabbaYes]

Se qualcuno vi dice che la perfezione non esiste, fategli vedere questo.

[jocelynharris-fxho]

Reading the description, I have a different take on this dance number. This is the only part of the show that I DID NOT like. The message seems to convey, that woman must expose their bodies and dance seductively, in order to show power. The "good girl" didn't need to go down to the level of the seductress. Morighan needed to come up to the beauty and purity of Saoirse. Unfortunately, society tells women that they must be seductive and aggressive but that is not how the Bible describes a Godly woman. Her TRUE beauty, is in her character and how she conducts herself. She does not need to draw attention to herself and say "look at me". Ireland is a Catholic country and I'm sure that more than a few people, cringed at this number. As a mother, I would be horrified if that were my daughter onstage. I love dance as much as anyone but like other "entertainment " forms, this has gone too far in the other direction. And in more recent versions of the show, the attire now looks like underwear. This number is not about Irish dance "breaking out" of it's conservative mold-- more like the secret fantasies of the man who created it because the same lewdness carried over into his other shows. No thanks, I'll stick with the show that is more conservative, clean and stays focused on the beauty and wonder of music and dance. We all know which show that is.