"Margaret Kelly Leibovici Margaret Kelly Leibovici (24 June 1910 – 11 September 2004), known as Miss Bluebell, was an Irish dancer who was the founder of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe. Margaret Kelly was born in Dublin on 24 June 1910 at the Rotunda Hospital. She never knew her parents. An Irish priest entrusted her to Mary Murphy, a spinster who worked at home as a dressmaker. In 1916, following the Easter uprising, both moved to Liverpool, where, on the direction of a doctor, Kelly was registered in a dance class to strengthen her frail legs. Quickly, it appeared that"
"Rudi Holzapfel Rudolf Patrick (Rudi) Holzapfel (11 December 1938 in Paris, France – 6 February 2005 in Bonn, Germany) was an Irish poet and teacher. His father, Rudolf Melander Holzapfel (1900–1982), was a Shakespeare scholar, expert on Old Master paintings, and art dealer. His mother, Mona Trew Holzapfel (1914–1998), was an original member of the renowned Bluebell Girls at the Folies Bergère. The Parisian dance troupe, founded in 1932 by the Dublin born Margaret Kelly (1910–2004), continues to perform elaborate shows at the Lido de Paris. The family relocated to America, living in California between 1946 to 1956, where Rudi"
"Bluebells, with whom she co-wrote the UK No. 1 ""Young at Heart"". a Since their inclusion on ""Songs from the Red Room"", an album by Fahey's solo project Shakespears Sister, these songs are now usually credited as 'Shakespears Sister' rather than 'Siobhan Fahey'. Siobhan Fahey Siobhan Máire Deirdre Fahey ( ; born 10 September 1958) is an Irish singer and musician, whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, who had several top 10 hits including the US number one hit single ""Venus"". She later formed the Brit Award-"
"at The Lido de Paris) and usually has some particularly spectacular costumes. Among the last of its kind, the Lido has a special place in the history of nightclubs and floorshows and continues a tradition of the ""naughty but nice"" opulent production shows originally started by The Follies Bergeres. Founded by Margaret Kelly, also known as Miss Bluebell, the dancers of the Lido are known as the Bluebell Girls. Until her retirement in 1986, each dancer was hand-selected by Kelly. Then the dancers were under the direction of Pierre Rambert until his retirement in Dec 2014. According to the Forbes,"
"from the others; Bluebell had an inventory of the tallest and most beautiful dancers who, with their costumes and high heels, towered over everybody on stage. Donn Arden's shows differentiated themselves from the others by the mixture of movement, colour, music and light in a kaleidoscope of impetuous rhythm. By the end of the 1950s, the Bluebell Girls had become an internationally recognized organization. Their base in Paris was supplemented by what had become permanent troupes in Las Vegas, other nations in Europe, Africa, as well as eastern Asia. From 1947, Marcel Leibovici had entered in full partnership with his"
"Bernadette Flynn Bernadette Mary Flynn (born 1 August 1979 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish dancer best known for her work in ""Lord of the Dance"" and ""Feet of Flames"". Flynn was born on 1 August 1979 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her parents Andy and Mary Flynn formerly owned ""Andy Flynn's"", a pub/bed & breakfast in her home town of Nenagh and subsequently became the proprietors of Flynn's Bistro located in Pearse Street in Nenagh. Bernadette has an older brother (Andrew), an older sister (Elaine) and twin sisters Catriona and Maria. Her family has always been very"
"One of her most noteworthy innovations was the introduction of the ""topless"" dancer in 1970. In 1986, Bluebell went into semi-retirement and left the Paris Lido, but she continued her global activities, particularly in Las Vegas with the MGM Grand Hotel. The Paris Lido bought her brand name Bluebell Girls to be allowed to continue its use in the shows. Miss Bluebell devoted a lot of her time and money for charities, but she was also known from her exemplary attitude towards her handicapped granddaughter Alexandra (Angelman syndrome). Bluebell had the very therapeutic attitude not to exclude her, but to"
"Michael Tubridy Michael ""Mick"" Tubridy (born 1935 at Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland) is an Irish musician, step dancer and structural engineer. In November 1962, he was a founder member of the traditional Irish music group, The Chieftains, with whom he played the tin whistle, Irish flute, and concertina; he remained a member of the group until 1979. In 1998 he published ""A Selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances,"" a guide to ""sean nós"" (old-style) step dancing in which he recorded the steps of renowned Clare dancing masters James Keane and Dan Furey using a system of notation of his own"
"In 1987, the British sculptor Doreen Kern realized Miss Bluebell's life-size bronze portrait bust, it was placed on her tomb (and stolen on 18 July 2008).. On June 24, 2010, Bluebell Girls – but there were also Kelly Boys Dancers - belonging to four generations and coming from around the world celebrated the first centenary of the birth of Miss Bluebell by meeting at the Lido de Paris. At the end of the show, they went on the stage and joined the Bluebell Girls who had performed. Such is the popularity of Miss Bluebell and the lifespan of her work…"
"Valois. She was an accomplished Irish step-dancer and traditional musician, and became the champion Irish stepdancer of Britain on 24 April 1931. She also won a swimming championship. She was a member of the Liverpool branch of the Gaelic League. Her early dance and music awards include: In the autumn of 1933 she returned with her family to their native Mallow in County Cork. In 1934, she set up her first school of dance there. From 1938 she also gave weekly classes in Cork in the Gregg Hall and Windsor School. During the 1930s she took part in the Cork"
"Joan Denise Moriarty Joan Denise Moriarty (died 24 January 1992) was an Irish ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher of ballet and traditional Irish dancer and musician. She was a key figure in the development of both amateur and professional ballet in Ireland. Little is known of Moriarty's early life. Her year of birth is estimated between 1910 and 1913 but no documentation has been found. The place of her birth is also unknown, and even the country is uncertain. She grew up as the daughter of Michael Augustus Moriarty (an alumnus of Stonyhurst College and contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)"
"The Bluebells The Bluebells were a Scottish indie rock band, active between 1981 and 1986 (later briefly reforming in 1993, 2008–2009 and 2011). The Bluebells performed jangly guitar based pop not dissimilar to their Scottish contemporaries Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. They had three Top 40 hit singles in the UK, all written by guitarist and founder member Bobby Bluebell (real name Robert Hodgens) – ""I'm Falling"", ""Cath"", and their biggest success ""Young at Heart"". The last was co-written with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama (originally recorded on the Bananarama album ""Deep Sea Skiving"") and violinist Bobby Valentino, and made it"
"of her life. Suspected of protecting her husband, she was interrogated by the Gestapo, but in spite of intense questioning, Margaret succeeded in not divulging his whereabouts. François Truffaut's film ""The Last Metro"" is inspired by this event in the life of Margaret Kelly and her husband. After the war, Margaret began a fruitful collaboration with Donn Arden, the American choreographer and producer, to produce shows at the Paris Lido. While beginning with a modest contract in 1947, the Bluebell Girls quickly became the sole stars of the Lido shows and gained notoriety locally and nationally. Their shows were different"
"Siobhan Fahey Siobhan Máire Deirdre Fahey ( ; born 10 September 1958) is an Irish singer and musician, whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, who had several top 10 hits including the US number one hit single ""Venus"". She later formed the Brit Award- and Ivor Novello Award-winning musical act Shakespears Sister, who had a UK number one hit with the 1992 single ""Stay"". Fahey joined the other original members of Bananarama for a 2017 tour. Fahey has two younger sisters, Máire (who played Eileen in the"
"on a merger with Patricia Ryan's Dublin National Ballet. But the amalgamation did not bring a solution to the financial problems besetting both companies, and after one joint season in Dublin in the late autumn of 1963 and in Cork the following January, the amalgamated company, Irish National Ballet, had to be disbanded in March 1964. Irish Theatre Ballet was the first professional dance company in Ireland for some time. The Abbey Theatre School of Ballet had been run by Ninette de Valois with the support of W.B. Yeats from 1927-1933, and was not just a school but a performing"
"in Los Angeles and for the President of Ireland during a visit to Nenagh. She can also be seen in two Olive Hurley Dance instructional videos: ""Irish dancing Step by Step"" and ""The 25th Anniversary World Championship"". In January 2009, both Bernadette and Damien represented Ireland on the NBC hit reality TV show 'Superstars of Dance'. Bernadette Flynn Bernadette Mary Flynn (born 1 August 1979 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish dancer best known for her work in ""Lord of the Dance"" and ""Feet of Flames"". Flynn was born on 1 August 1979 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland."
"Ninette de Valois Dame Ninette de Valois (6 June 18988 March 2001) was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director of classical ballet, who began life in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, as Edris Stannus. Most notably, she danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, later establishing the Royal Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century and one of the leading ballet companies in the world. She also established the Royal Ballet School and the touring company which became the Birmingham Royal Ballet. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history"
"regional styles and traditions at the expense of others. In 1951 dance teacher Patricia Mulholland was suspended from teaching by CLRG for six months after participating in a dance event where the British national anthem was played. Mulholland decided to leave CLRG and create a new form of Irish dance, described as a form of ""folk ballet"", in order to appeal to Protestant and Catholic heritages. A group of dancing teachers from Northern Ireland met in Belfast in 1971 and formed a new organisation, initially known as An Comgall, but later renamed to the Nine Glens Association. The Association hosted"
"the Bluebelles was a US 1960s girl group whose image Vicki Wickham, their manager, helped remake in the early 1970s, renaming the group Labelle and pushing them in the direction of glam rock. Labelle were the first girl group to eschew matching outfits and identical choreography, instead wearing extravagant spacesuits and feathered headdresses. Later, during the disco craze and beyond, female acts included First Choice, Silver Convention, Hot, the Emotions, High Inergy, Odyssey, Sister Sledge, Mary Jane Girls, Belle Epoque, Frantique, Luv', and Baccara. Extending into the 1980s were groups like the Pointer Sisters, Exposé, and Bananarama. In Latin America,"
"Catherine Littlefield Catherine Littlefield (1908 — 1951) was an American ballerina, choreographer, and artistic director. At the age of 27, she founded the famous American ballet school, The Littlefield Ballet (later known as the Philadelphia Ballet) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. It was the first American ballet company to achieve fame at both the national and international level. Littlefield's establishment was the first American ballet company to tour in Europe and produce the first evening-length (or three-act) edition of the musical ""The Sleeping Beauty"". Littlefield was also known for her production, “My Bicycle Girl” as a part of the American"
"on it were Ellen Bushell, Seán Connolly, Helena Molony, Arthur Shields, Peadar Kearney and Barney Murphy. Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh | Máire Nic Ṡiúḃlaiġ (8 May 1883 – 1958) was an Irish actress and republican activist. She started acting in her teens and appeared in the first Irish-language play performed in Ireland. She was a founder-member of the Abbey Theatre and was leading lady on its opening night in 1904, when she played the title role in W.B. Yeats's ""Cathleen Ni Houlihan"". She later joined the Theatre of Ireland, which she helped to found. Nic Shiubhlaigh was born"
"Daire Nolan Daire Nolan (born 1 December 1968) is an Irish dancer and choreographer best known for his work in ""Lord of the Dance"" and ""Feet of Flames"". Nolan has been dancing since the age of ten under the guidance of his parents Rose and Tony Nolan in Limerick and is no stranger to the international stage. He is undoubtedly the most famous ""baddie"" (evil stage character) within the Irish dance world since he was the original ""Dark Lord"" in Michael Flatley's show, ""Lord of the Dance"". He later played the role in Flatley's show, ""Feet of Flames"". He left"
"Lindsay Kemp Lindsay Keith Kemp (3 May 1938 – 25 August 2018) was a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist, and choreographer. He was probably best known for his 1974 flagship production of ""Flowers"", a mime and music show based on Jean Genet's novel ""Our Lady of the Flowers"", in which he played the lead role of 'Divine'. Due to its homosexuality and perceived decadence, reviews were sometimes hostile, but it was widely considered a theatrical and sensory sensation, and it toured globally for many years. He was also a mentor to David Bowie and Kate Bush. Kemp was born"
"household name in Ireland due to the success the school enjoyed. Notable pupils include Angeline Ball, Susan McFadden, Brian McFadden, Mikey Graham (of Boyzone), Samantha Mumba, Hilda Fay, Louise Bowden, Brenda Donoghue, Lisa Lambe, Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Devon Murray and Jacinta Whyte. Billie Barry Billie Barry (d. 30 September 2014) was an Irish singer, dancer and choreographer who founded the Billie Barry Stage School in 1964. Billie Barry was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her father John Clarke-Barry was a respected musician who took part in many orchestras. Her mother was an amateur operatic singer. Barry started performing as a singer at"
"of homophobia-related clips."" Panti Rory O'Neill, (born 16 November 1968), also known by his stage name as Panti or Panti Bliss and Pandora Panti Bliss is a drag queen and gay rights activist from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland. O'Neill, the son of a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and went to art college in Dún Laoghaire. Although raised a Roman Catholic, O'Neill is an atheist. O'Neill talked to Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin about having been diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1995 on the RTÉ Radio 1 series ""Aoibhinn and Company"". Panti is considered to be Ireland's foremost drag queen."
"Panti Rory O'Neill, (born 16 November 1968), also known by his stage name as Panti or Panti Bliss and Pandora Panti Bliss is a drag queen and gay rights activist from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland. O'Neill, the son of a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and went to art college in Dún Laoghaire. Although raised a Roman Catholic, O'Neill is an atheist. O'Neill talked to Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin about having been diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1995 on the RTÉ Radio 1 series ""Aoibhinn and Company"". Panti is considered to be Ireland's foremost drag queen. From 1996 to"
"Peter Darrell Peter Darrell CBE (16 September 1929 - 2 December 1987), was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and founder of the Scottish Ballet. He was born ""'Peter Skinner"" at Richmond, Surrey, on 16 September 1929. For almost four decades he had been one of the most productive and imaginative talents in British ballet. He studied at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, joined the opera ballet there and then took part in the inaugural performance of The Sadler's Wells Ballet Company — what is now Birmingham Royal Ballet. He then worked in musicals and at the Malmö Opera House, Sweden, until"
"Sinéad O'Carroll Sinéad Maria O'Carroll (born 14 May 1973) is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician, dancer and actress. She is best known for being a member of the girl group B*Witched. In 1998, Edele Lynch formed the girl group Butterfly Farm with her twin sister Keavy Lynch and O'Carroll. The trio began writing and recording together, but soon realised that there was ""someone missing"". Upon Keavy's suggestion, they asked Lindsay Armaou to come for an audition and she played a tape recording of a song she had written. The other girls liked it and Lindsay became the fourth member of the"
"in a concert that was accompanied by a documentary featuring pieces of Littlefield’s ""Café Society"". Catherine Littlefield Catherine Littlefield (1908 — 1951) was an American ballerina, choreographer, and artistic director. At the age of 27, she founded the famous American ballet school, The Littlefield Ballet (later known as the Philadelphia Ballet) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. It was the first American ballet company to achieve fame at both the national and international level. Littlefield's establishment was the first American ballet company to tour in Europe and produce the first evening-length (or three-act) edition of the musical ""The Sleeping Beauty"". Littlefield"
"Gillian Norris Gillian Norris (born 29 December 1978) is an Irish dancer and model best known for her work in ""Lord of the Dance"" and ""Feet of Flames"". Norris was born in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, Ireland on 29 December 1978 to Mary Norris and Desmond Norris, a carpenter and well-known tenor. Norris is the youngest of five children. She started dancing at the age 10, when her parents signed her up for dance lessons at the Higgins School of Irish Dance in Waterford. She later won the All-Ireland, Great Britain, and British National titles and placed 3rd at the World"
"Aileen Plunket Aileen Plunket or Aileen Sibell Mary Plunket; Aileen Sibell Mary Guinness (1904 – 1999) was an Irish society hostess. She was one of the ""Guinness Golden Girls"" who were icons in the 1920s. She married well and took an interest in organising parties and in interior design. Plunket was one of three daughters of Arthur Ernest Guinness. She was part of the rich and well connected Guinness family. As a girl she lived at Glenmaroon in Chapelizod near Dublin. Her father lavished money on his daughter's but his primary interest was in his business. In 1923 she and"
"as the Vic-Wells Ballet. The Vic-Wells ballet company and school would be the predecessors of today's Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Royal Ballet School. Also in 1927, in May, W. B. Yeats, poet and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre, suggested to de Valois while she was visiting Dublin the establishment of a ballet school in the city, and from around November, she took responsibility for the setting up and the programming of the Abbey Theatre School of Ballet in Dublin. This, the first of perhaps five Irish national ballet school projects during the 20th century, ran until June 1933,"
"company, with de Valois herself often dancing in its productions. A later ""Abbey School of Ballet"" was founded by two of its dancers, and continued with performances into the 1950s (but was primarily a school). Two more projects were launched by students of de Valois. First, in 1936, Sara Payne launched her Ballet School and Company, which performed eight ballets between then and 1942. Then in 1939 Cepta Cullen launched the Irish Ballet Club, which performed 14 ballets up to 1944. Finally, Patricia Ryan launched the National Ballet School in 1956, and added a formal Ballet Company in 1959, and"