When Lucas Lawton first laced up his soft shoes as a kid in suburban Montreal, he didn’t believe he would become the lead in one of the most iconic dance productions in the world. Yet, from a chance encounter with Irish dance in Montreal’s West Island to stepping into the title role in Lord of the Dance, his journey has been anything but ordinary.

“I started dancing when I was seven,” Lawton recalls. “My parents were really big on physical activity, so I tried a lot of different things like hockey and soccer. I quit most of them. But one day, we went to a friend’s house and her daughter did a little Irish dance performance. I started mimicking her, and my mom said, ‘Let’s try this.’”

Lawton began with one class a week at Montreal’s renowned Bernadette Short School of Irish Dance.

“It was just for fun at first. I liked the social aspect. I wasn’t super competitive. Around the age of 13 or 14, teachers kept telling me I was talented, that I could go far. I started to take it more seriously, added a second class, and once I put energy into it, I started to rise quickly through the competition levels.”

He danced competitively until his early 20s before moving into the professional realm. “I started professionally dancing around 23 or 24 years of age, and I have been doing productions and touring for about eight years now.”

But the path to the coveted role in the production that first captured his imagination was anything but direct. “I remember watching the VHS of Lord of the Dance. That was my version of a superstar. I couldn’t even imagine how anyone from Canada could get there. It really captured my attention.”

Ironically, it was during the lockdowns of COVID that his big break arrived. “They were putting on Feet of Flames in Taiwan, which was a spin-off version of Lord of the Dance. They needed to cast 60 dancers but couldn’t do in-person auditions, so they were done over Zoom. I studied some choreography and submitted videos. I knew that was my shot.”

Lawton was selected and traveled to Taiwan, where he danced under strict protocols. “I knew I had to make a good impression. I worked really hard in the lead-up, and during the show I was put in a lot of extra numbers, which was what I was hoping for.”

That hope did eventually evolve into a dream come true. When Lord of the Dance resumed with its 25th Anniversary Tour, Lawton was one of the dancers chosen. But he wasn’t quite prepared for what was to come.

“They started having me train for the lead role. I didn’t expect that. But they saw something in me.”

That final step came in 2024. “I auditioned for Michael Flatley himself. He’s amazing at giving people opportunities. I auditioned at 3 p.m., and I was performing the lead role the next day at the matinee. It was surreal.”

Even now, the weight of the moment hasn’t entirely settled in. “Every time I get to do that role, I’m still blown away. The fact that I get to put my own stamp on a performance that’s been so iconic for almost 30 years is crazy and special.”

Lawton’s story is not just about personal triumph. It’s also a reflection of a living tradition.

“Irish dance is always evolving – the roots may be traditional and celebratory, but the form itself is contemporary, athletic, and dramatic.”

As a teacher now himself, Lawton sees the next generation starting to bloom.

“There’s still a steady interest. Maybe not like the boom years of Riverdance, but kids are finding new ways to engage with it. TikTok and Instagram Irish dance videos are going viral and that is exciting.”

He also sees new creative horizons ahead. “We have only had professional Irish dance for 30 years. That’s nothing compared to ballet or classical art forms, so we are very much at the beginning. I would love to see Irish dance in musicals, in film, or even a Broadway show. There is so much we haven’t explored.”

After a well-earned break at home in Montreal, Lawton will head back on tour later this year, with performances scheduled in South Africa, Australia, Taiwan, and across Europe. But he’s not just riding the wave of past dreams fulfilled; he’s imagining new ones.

“It still hasn’t sunk in that this is my story. But I love telling it and I’m excited to see where it goes next.”

@lucaslawts