The Lord Of The Dance 30th anniversary show, due to take place at Dublin’s 3Arena this week, has been cancelled due to an ongoing legal dispute, organisers have said.
A spokesman for Michael Flatley, who developed the show, later described the move as “outrageous” and insisted that the performance would go on.
A solicitor for Switzer Consulting Ltd, which was to run the show, said in a statement that it had been called off with “immediate effect”.
Describing the company as the “owner of the show and the intellectual property rights”, the statement added that the decision “has not been taken lightly”.
“Switzer fully recognises and regrets the disappointment this will cause to fans and ticket holders who were looking forward to the performance.”
It blamed “an ongoing commercial and legal dispute concerning the operation of the show, which could not be resolved in the timeframe available”.
Last Thursday, a legal order blocking Flatley from engaging with the Lord Of The Dance production was overturned by a court in Belfast.
Switzer Consulting had taken the action in a civil case against the choreographer and dancer for alleged breach of contract, relating to an agreement the firm says was reached to allow it to run the dance shows.
A spokesman for Flatley on Tuesday insisted that despite the sudden announcement of the show’s cancellation, the performance would go ahead as planned on Thursday night.
“The service agreement with Switzer Consulting Limited was terminated yesterday afternoon,” he said. “Michael’s legal team was in court this morning in Belfast and a hearing date was set for April 2026.”
The spokesman said it was “outrageous” that Switzer would “issue a press release just three short hours after appearing in court this morning in the way that they have”.
He added: “Particularly when the relationship with Michael has been validly terminated and half a million euros has been lodged in a solicitor’s account pending the hearing in April.”
He concluded by saying that Flatley’s legal advisers would be seeking an injunction in Belfast on Tuesday afternoon “to ensure the show on Thursday goes ahead”.
The Dublin show is being seen as a showcase for US bookers, many of whom are planning to travel to Ireland to see the performance before deciding whether they want to bring it to US cities in the coming months.
In its statement, Switzer said: “Despite extensive efforts to find a workable solution that would have allowed the performance to proceed, Switzer was ultimately unable to obtain the assurances required to proceed responsibly.”
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast after last Thursday’s judgment, Flatley said the families of the show’s dancers, cast and crew had flown in for the performance.
“We’re going to lift the roof on Thursday,” he said. “This will be the greatest version of this show that you will ever see.”
Switzer said ticket refunds would be administered by promoters and ticketing agents. – Additional report PA