Riverdance in China

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This is a documentary that focuses on Riverdance as an extraordinary cultural phenomenon. Starting with the enormous success that the show has achieved to date throughout the world we will follow the production to Beijing, seeing it as an important cultural engagement between Ireland and China while also documenting what it takes to bring a show of this scale to a foreign location. Through the documentary we get to know the principle players behind the scenes while also following the dancers and musicians getting a sense of their impressions of China and their experience of traveling so far from home. The documentary follows every detail of putting the show together in Beijing from the first truck arriving at the People's Hall right through to the curtain call of the Gala night and in the process, brings viewers a real sense of the enormous undertaking involved in this major international show. Pursuing the idea of seeing the Riverdance phenomenon from all angles the documentary follows the show at the People's Hall and the preparations that take place before the cast set foot in the theatre. It follows rehearsals and intercut with amazing footage of the dancers on the Great Wall of China and out and about in experiencing everyday life in Beijing and their engagement with the people and the city. The documentary features interviews with all they key creatives that make up the backbone of the show. Riverdance is a modern manifestation of Ireland's ancient culture so it's timely that Ireland brings Riverdance to China, the oldest surviving culture in the world but a culture that is embarking on the most radical cultural and social evolution ever undertaken by a nation in one generation.