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.
Flynn was born on August 1, 1979 in Nenagh - Tipperary - Ireland. Her parents Andy and Mary Flynn onced owned "Andy Flynn's", a pub / bed & breakfast in her home town of Nenagh. Bernadette has an older brother (Andrew), a sister (Elaine) and twin sisters Catiriona and Maria. Her family has always been very supportive of her dancing.
Bernadette attended 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, saying, "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 the Browne Academy of Dance, starting at the age of four, studying under Dorian Browne. Additionally, her sister Elaine tutored her in Irish dance in the early years, with classes during the week and dance competitions on the weekends. Her competitive achievements include six world titles and seven All-Ireland titles. She was first in the 1996 World Irish dancing championship.
When Flynn auditioned for Lord of the Dance, 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. Flynn 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.
Of her role, she has said: "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!"
She can also be seen in two Olive Hurley Dance instructional videos: Irish dancing Step by Step and The 25th Anniversary World Championship.
Highlights of her career include dancing at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles and for the President of Ireland during a visit to Nenagh.
Flynn is the Dance Captain of Troupe 1.
Her husband Damien O'Kane is also a member of the Lord of the Dance 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 were engaged in July 2003 and married on 28th December, 2004.
Flynn prefers show dancing to competition, because she loves the freedom she has while performing. She has broken a bone in her foot, as well as having a couple of ligament sprains.
Michael Flatley has said of Flynn: "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."
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