The Irish Art Festival kicked off with the return of Riverdance, the Irish dance performance that electrified Chinese audiences last year. As an important part of this year's Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival, a stellar cast has been assembled to showcase the cultural treasures of Ireland.

Zhou Lin, who just saw Riverdance at Beijing's Poly Theater, says she can't wait to experience more of the Irish art scene.

"I missed Riverdance last year, but luckily I got the chance to see it this year. It's different from American tap dancing. I just loved it."

The festival also features drama, painting, films and traditional Irish music. The lineup includes the drama Waiting for Godot by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, the modern dance "Mermaids," based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic The Little Mermaid and concerts by singer Mary Black and pianist Barry Douglas.

Donal Shiels, independent producer and general manager of the Second Age Theatre Company, is the festival manager. He is enthusiastic about a collaborative work, choreographed by an Irish artist, to be performed at the end of this month by the China National Ballet.

"Because of the nature of this, there will be great mutual understanding. Not only people who participate in the events, but people who watch the events will . . . see it. People in China will see Irish works and it will therefore help build a better understanding of how the two countries form their views. Because everybody accepts that when you are involved and look at the art, it helps form your views on everything."

The Irish Festival, the first of its kind in China, will continue into June. It will be followed by a reciprocal Chinese Cultural Festival in Ireland this summer.

(Cri.com May 11, 2004)