Breandán de Gallaí

Breandán de Gallaí (born June 10, 1969, Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal)(sometimes anglicised to Brendan Galway) is a professional Irish dancer, who is most famous for his lead role in "Riverdance".

Born into a family of seven, by his father Gearóid who's from Belfast and mother Nellie, originally from Gaoth Dobhair. In 1987 he went to the USA and joined the Gus Giordano’s dance academy and there he studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Tap dancing. Back in Dublin, Ireland he worked as a teacher teaching Applied Physics and Irish after completing a four year degree at Dublin City University.Cite web|url=http://www.celticcafe.com/archive/People/breandan/interview.htm|title=Breándan de Gallaí In His Own Words|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 1|publisher=The Celtic Cafe|year=1999|author=Caroline Oosterveer and Elvira Sprenger]

He was first picked by Michael Flatley to join Riverdance for the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. In the meantime de Gallaí set up his own dance company called "Dualta" with few other friends. In 1998 de Gallaí took the lead role in "Riverdance" and has been honoured to perform for and to meet King Hussein of Jordan, the Emperor of Japan, the Crown Prince of Japan, Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Queen Sonja of Norway and Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. He states Vaslav Nijinsky as one of his biggest influences.Cite web|url=http://www.riverdance.com/htm/theshow/thejourney/breandandegallai.htm|title=Breandán de Gallaí|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=December 1|publisher=Abhann Productions Limited, Riverdance|author=Riverdance]

Breandán has completed "Balor", a 90 minute contemporary Irish dance show to music composed by Joe Csibi. He regularly presents TV programs for RTÉ and TG4 and is external examiner for the MA in Irish dance performance in the University of Limerick.

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External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/davidsmid.geo/jandb.html geocities.com]