IT'S hard enough being hand-picked by Michael Flatley to take on the title role in one of the most famous dance shows in the world. But as Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games comes to Manchester, James Keegan is facing even more pressure.

For on the final night of the show's week-long run, the audience will include 150 of James' own pupils from the dance school he runs with his sister Louise.

"Yes, no pressure there then," laughed former World Irish Dance Champion James. "When I'm home I teach with my sister and she's a real organiser. She's got this group booking for 150 for Saturday night so between all those from the dance academy and friends and family, I think it's going to be quite a special night."

James grew up in Fallowfield and has been involved in Irish dancing from the age of four, going on to win every possible championship. At 16 he joined Lord of the Dance and 10 months later was the youngest dancer ever to perform the lead role at a show in South Africa.

Now 30, he is the principal dancer in the show which has played to packed houses all over the world. But in spite of a hectic schedule, James remains committed to his young students.

"This year when we finish the UK tour I will be continuing with it into the rest of Europe and then to South Africa," he said. "Generally we are on tour from between nine to 10 months a year.

"We have little spells which maybe a week or a bit longer when we can get home and I'll always go back into the academy whenever I can.

"We have classes in Fallowfield, Chorlton and Whitefield which are all doing well.

"When we opened the school I was thinking I'd have a lot more free time than I do," he said.

"You always think that the show is going to slow down at some point but, if anything, it just gets stronger and stronger and long may that continue."

Lord of the Dance is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and Dangerous Games is the second instalment of this spectacular show.

"This is basically a continuation of the original Lord of the Dance," said James. "It's told through the dreams of the young spirit who helped the Lord of the Dance defeat the Dark Lord in the original production.

"Because it's a dream, it allows almost anything to happen so we've got some dancing robots and some truly spectacular routines."

Lord of the Dance and its predecessor Riverdance have totally transformed the public's appreciation of Irish dancing.

"Lord of the Dance has taken Irish dance to a much wider audience," said James. "It has given people an understanding of it.

"Some of my friends at school when I was competing, they just knew me as a dancer. They just made up their own idea of what I was doing, but when you've got something that they can actually look at on TV or see in the theatre it makes it so much easier.

"They realised it was something quite cool and it definitely made my life and a lot of other guys' lives a lot easier. It gave every dancer a platform to aim for and I think it made it easier for us all especially Irish dancers to have Michael Flatley out there giving us an end goal."

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, April 11 to Saturday, April 15. Details from 0844 871 3019