Michael Flatley has taken formal steps to terminate his contract with an entertainment company over staging Lord of the Dance shows, the High Court in Belfast heard today.
The world famous Irish dancer is locked in a legal battle with Switzer Consulting Ltd about control of the multi-million pound production.
A temporary ban on Mr Flatley interfering with the show he created was ended last week ahead of a 30th anniversary tour.
The injunction was lifted due to the risk that he could ultimately suffer “potentially unquantifiable” lost revenue through the ongoing proceedings.
Switzer is suing Mr Flatley for alleged breach of a July 2024 service agreement to oversee the Lord of the Dance touring operation.
But in court today senior counsel for the star confirmed he is pursuing a counter claim against the company.
David Dunlop KC also disclosed his client has exercised rights to end the arrangement pending the outcome of the legal dispute over the production which opens this week in Dublin.
“We have served a formal notice of termination on Switzer,” he said.
“It is going to be our contention that the agreement, such as it was, had been terminated by breaches carried out by Switzer.”
Proceedings were adjourned until April, when the case is expected to be listed for a full trial hearing.
Switzer initially obtained an interim ex-parte order to stop the 67-year-old choreographer and retired performer from cancelling, postponing or interfering with the show amid disputed allegations about his financial affairs.
With 268 performances of Lord of the Dance booked across Europe and North America, the firm claimed his interference had put those shows in jeopardy.
The court heard Mr Flatley has received nearly £430,000 in royalties in a 15-month period since the deal was signed.
But the arrangement began to break down when he “went on a solo run” towards the end of 2025 in a bid to restructure what had been set up, it was contended.
Switzer boss Joe Gallagher also 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 cheaply.
Further concerns were raised that another businessman who holds rights to music featured in Lord of the Dance could pull the plug on shows if there is any default on repayments of nearly $3m US dollars owed to him.
A letter sent by Mr 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.
Referring to a growing sense of frustration among those who have worked with Mr Flatley for years, it was claimed he has feigned ignorance or a lack of understanding to avoid debt obligations.
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 star compounded his difficulties by making “horrendous” business mistakes which cost him millions in further borrowings at a time when he had no income and was running out of road financially, his former business associate claimed.
He added: “Michael’s appetite for lifestyle cash was insatiable, including borrowing 75,000 euros for his birthday party and 50,000 euros to join Monaco yacht club, all during a time when he had no income other than borrowings.”
During the application for an extended injunction, claims were made about an attempt to replace the plaintiff firm with the newly formed Feet of Flames entity.
Mr 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 £35,000, rising to £40,000 after the first two years.
Mr Justice Simpson was told the attacks on the dancer’s character and ability to run a business had nothing to do with the case.
He had relied on his former financial adviser and been informed that the agreement brought the business back into his full ownership, the court heard.
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, any cross-undertaking to pay Mr Flatley damages if it ultimately loses the breach of contract case was described as worthless.
Backing those submissions, the court refused to grant an injunction because of the firm’s financial position.
The judge held that imposing a prohibition until the trial is determined could result in “potentially unquantifiable” losses for the star who owns intellectual property in Lord of the Dance.
He confirmed today a further review will be held following the Easter recess.
