AS his hugely successful Lord of the Dance heads for Bournemouth this summer, Irish American dance genius Michael Flatley says he's delighted to be bringing the show back to Britain. (Aug 31)

The globe-trotting production has played to more than 50 million people in 36 different countries but arrives at the Bournemouth Pavilion in August at the start of a major new series of British theatre engagements.

After playing the Pavilion from August 5 to 31, there will be dates in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and London.

Flatley, who devised, wrote, produced and choreographed the show, retired from active dancing in 2001, but remains its creative director.

He said: "I am absolutely thrilled Lord Of The Dance is returning to the United Kingdom later this year.

"In the last six years the show has been around the world many times and we have made so many new friends. It has been a great privilege for us all.

"There's nothing more exciting than to visit a new country for the first time - to savour an often wide and diverse culture, to meet and enjoy new people.

"But it's also good to come back, to revisit old haunts and meet old friends and renew old acquaintances."