Michael Flatley rules the MTS Centre stage October 11, 2005.

Nobody can dance like Michael Flatley but a few dozen of his protégés came pretty close Tuesday night as Flatley’s fleet-footed crew rolled into the MTS Centre to perform Celtic Tiger for a crowd of 5,000.

The story of Ireland unfolded on the MTS Centre stage, and turns out its more bouncy and leggy than you might think. From the Stone Age to the age of sequins, Celtic Tiger re-enacted significant moments in Ireland’s history with passion and unwavering energy. Who needs fact when you’ve got footwork!

In front of a fabulously large screen, the Celtic Tiger clan proved they can dance . . . and sing . . . and switch costumes really, really fast.

From Vikings (in horned helmets) to pilots (in bright white caps), the costumes nearly stole the show. Although the guys got to play soldier and brawl with each other pretty regularly, the lads were luckiest when partnered up with those lovely ladies.

As flight attendants, cheerleaders, busty peasants, and groovy gangsters in zoot suits, the girls had the best costumes and most costume changes. Although all costumes were impressive, the most memorable wasn’t elaborate at all: With a risqué on-stage strip-tease, one dancer transformed from tame Irish Flight Attendant to star-spangled, bikini-clad Pin-Up, shocking and thrilling the packed MTS Centre crowd.

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