Born in County Donegal, Ireland,
Michael Patrick Gallagher began his dance career at the relatively late age of eight years, dancing throughout his competitive career with Ann Kerr and the Aodh Rua Academy of Irish Dance. Once started, however, he moved up the competitive dance ranks with lightning speed, winning his first world championship less than one year after starting to learn hard shoe dancing. Over the course of his competitive career, Michael Patrick has won numerous coveted titles, including seven Ulster (regional) titles, five All-Ireland Championships, and a second World title. Michael Patrick has been hailed as “one of the best Irish dancers, ever,by experts in the field.

This two-time World Champion was next invited to audition for the original cast of Riverdance: The Show. After an initial reluctance to leave school, Michael Patrick was soon off and dancing. Advancing quickly to the role of male lead, Michael Patrick has spent the last eight years travelling the world with the cast and crew of Riverdance, first with the Lagan Company and now with the Flying Squad. He has given over 1200 performances as male principal laying claim to one of the longest and most popular tenures as male lead ever to perform in Riverdance. The talented Gallagher family can also boast of three other world champion level dancers, all of whom have all toured over the years with Riverdance and with Lord of the Dance. Presently Michael Patrick’s sister Catherine directs a successful Irish dance performance company in Budapest, and often performs with him when she is visiting here in the States.

Besides his phenomenal dancing, Michael Patrick is also in great demand for his talent in choreography. He obtained his TCRG degree in Irish dance from An Coimisiun, with exceptional scores, during a short break from one of his tours. He has a reputation for creating very difficult, rhythmic, and innovative material, and is sought after to conduct dance workshops all over the world.

Michael Patrick performs with the Tir Conaill Academy whenever he can, and especially enjoys a good Irish crowd. He is a featured performer at the most prestigious Irish events in both Phoenix and Tucson, including the Tucson Emerald Ball as seen here below. More on Michael Patrick can be found on his website at www.irishdanceworks.com

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