Bernadette Flynn
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Bernadette Mary Flynn (born 1 August 1979 in Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish dancer best known for her work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.
Bernadette Mary Flynn was born on August 1, 1979 in Nenagh - Tipperary - Ireland. Her parents Andy and Mary Flynn own a pub which is also a bed & breakfast in her home town Nenagh. The pub is called : "Andy Flynn's" and the walls are covered with pictures of Bernadette dancing in Lord of the Dance. They have quite a large family. Bernadette has an older brother ( Andrew ) a sister ( Elaine ) and she has twin sisters called Catiriona and Maria. Bernadette's family has always been very supportive of her dancing.
Bernadette went to school at " St. Mary secondary school" in Ireland. While her classmates were busy preparing for the exams in their last year before graduation, Bernadette enjoyed the success of a dream come true : dancing as one of the leading ladies in Lord of the Dance next to Michael Flatley. She has no regrets about leaving her school behind. Bernadette says : "This is what I've always wanted to do, it's a dream come true for any Irish dancer".
Before Lord of the Dance, she attended " Browne Academy of Dance" starting at the age of 4. Bernadette's Irish dancing teacher was Dorian Brown. Her sister Elaine used to tutor her in Irish dance in the early years. They'd do classes during the week and on weekends Bernadette was competing at several dance competitions. Among her competitive achievements, she had won 6 World titles and 7 All-Ireland's. She came in first in the 1996 World Irish dancing championship. When Bernadette auditioned for LOTD, she was chosen to dance the lead role of Saoirse the Irish Colleen while Gillian Norris was chosen to dance the lead role of Morrighann the Temptress.
Bernadette is the original Saoirse and can be seen on both the original Lord of the dance DVD as well as the Feet of Flames DVD. She can also be seen in 2 Olive Hurley Dance instructions videos called : " Irish dancing Step by Step" and "the 25th Anniversary World Championship". Some of the highlights of her career are dancing in front of one billion viewers during the Academy Awards ( Oscars ) in Los Angeles and also dancing for the president of Ireland when she visited Bernadette's hometown Nenagh.
Bernadette is the Dance Captain of Troupe 1. Her husband (previously Boyfriend) Damien O'Kane is also a member of the LOTD Troupe and has been so since the beginning in 1996. He is one of the male leads and plays: "the Lord of the Dance". They got married in late 2005.
Michael Flatley once said (about Bernadette):
"dancing with Bernadette is like dancing with the air, you don't have to look and see where she is. You can feel her no matter where she is on the stage."
A quote by Bernadette herself:
"I had no idea I would get a lead role. Gillian and I just went along to the auditions just hoping to get in. We both went into Lord of the Dance as backline dancers. We'd only seen Michael Flatley in Riverdance and when we had to meet, it was like "Michael Flatley, oh my god!" After the auditions we went to the rehearsals and were just learning the dances and steps. At this stage, we hadn't been given a storyline. It was very, very difficult to get used to using our hands as well. One day we all had to dance using our hands, and Gillian and I began to stand out. After two weeks we stepped into our roles as good girl and bad girl and started to arrive early to rehearse and left late. It was all unsaid for a while, but then we were told we were to take the lead roles in the Point in Dublin. We were told it could last a day, a week, a month or maybe even years!"
