Riverdance: Live From Beijing

My mom loves the DVD.

We bought this DVD because we had seen a live performance of Riverdance that week and wanted to sustain the feelings and enjoyment of the show. This is a good recording of a live show, that happened in Beijing, although it doesn’t really matter where it was recorded because the basic show hasn’t changed much since its beginning. The only thing different is that it Beijing there was included a segment featuring Chinese musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments and traditional music, which was a nice “local” addition.If you like Celtic music and Irish step-dancing, then you’ll enjoy Riverdance. The music is haunting, the dancing flawless and energetic and the performances professional. Some of the dancers have been with the show for several years and have an obvious love for performing the show. That this is a video recording of a live show has pluses and minuses in that the camera isn’t stationary, so you get views you wouldn’t if you were in the live audience, but the camera movements were distracting at times.This isn’t the kind of DVD we would watch again and again, but neither Netflix or Amazon Prime has it available for rent and our local library, that used to have a VHS tape recording, no longer held it, so we bought it, watched it a couple of times and then donated it to the library so others could see it. That way, we could see it, ourselves, just by checking it out.

I've loved Riverdance ever since getting a VHS tape of the original show, and now own all the different incarnations.This is a nice production, but there's not anything spectacular about it. There aren't any dances that are exclusive to this DVD and I got a little vibe of "same old, same old". But...there is a new element in that one song does include some Chinese musicians and musical themes. That definitely is something different from any other Riverdance show. As usual, there is a new pair of lead dancers for this show. They do a good job, but there wasn't (at least to my mind) anything especially memorable about them--certainly not compared to the first two pairs of dancers in the series (Michael Flatley/Jean Butler, Colin Dunne/Jean Butler). Also as usual is the costume redesigns: some good and others baffling. Other reviewers have commented negatively about the numerous audience shots during the show; yes, there are a good number of them, but that's been true of every other Riverdance show and isn't an exclusive criticism for this one.Still, it's a nice show that I'm glad to own to complete my Riverdance set,

My 4th complete version of Riverdance. Not my favorite of the 4, but a good one and I am glad I bought it - any new recording of Riverdance would be challenged to equal the New York'96 or Geneva '02 productions and recordings. I found the audio editing to be a bit heavy handed and a distraction; I kept finding I was anticipating a continued swell in the music to carry the emotion near the end of a number (as in all previous recordings, both music and video) and instead it waned. Likewise, to emphasize a melody the percussion was suppressed more than I'd heard in the past. I've heard some complain about the video editing - too focused on the audience - but I did not find this distracting, although it was more than in previous video recordings. Perhaps the last large-venue video recording of Riverdance and for that reason I'm glad I have it.

Expert evaluations of Amazon media are usually available for my perusal, but there are none yet for Riverdance: Live from Beijing. So I will make my small contribution, hoping readers will consider buying the DVD. This was a superb and thrilling performance! The only improvement possible would have been for us to be sitting in the audience. The principal dancers, especially Padraic Moyles, are at the top of their game. Though flamenco is not my favorite form of dance, Sobrado's precision and artistry on this latest DVD made me reconsider. The audience's enthusiasm was captured so well and I could imagine being there. Cameras caught subtle glances between dancers, interaction among players in the dramas, and even a future Riverdancer in the audience. A musical conversation between the visiting performers and musicians from the Beijing school of music sent my heart soaring. If world peace is possible, I think it will begin with the artists (and scientists). This 15th anniversary of the Riverdance phenomenon showcases the troupe at the pinnacle of their art form. I recommend it without reservation.

OK, OK, OK, I'm a bit biased. Not only because my friend Kevin is in the cast of this amazing DVD, but because I have seen Riverdance performed live over 20 times and this DVD shows the travel, hard work and dedication of the dancers and musicians as well as the tech crew. It is fun to see all the behind the scenes goings on.I was moved by how well received it was in Beijing where the people are under so much political control. You could see so much joy in their faces. My favorite scene is when they saw some Beijing youth dancing the same dance steps outside in a park one afternoon.Riverdance isn't just "an Irish dance show". It is so much more. It has a story and depth and beauty and artistry. If you haven't seen it before--this would be an amazing introduction to the perfection that is Riverdance.

I first saw the original on PBS years ago and loved it so I bought this and felt the same way now.

it was ok,,but not as good as some,,too much singing without dancing in some part and then gets too much into other forms of dancing too,,,i felt it was trying to be politically correct,,why? ,,I bought it cause I like irish dancing,,,they are famous because of their irish dancing,,so why let politics and all that enter into the format,,,,,,

Bought this hoping for a high quality version of Riverdance. The description states that it is a BluRay and it does indeed show a 30Mbps playback rate, BUT the actual image quality is very poor and barely up to DVD level and nowhere near to BluRay.I don't even know if I can return it, despite the total misdescription but will see if Amazon will accept a return.AVOID!!

A complete travesty of what Irish dancing is. Almost a joke. Yes, the dancers are talented people, but this type of dancing has no soul, and is completely robotic. Very disappointed. Will donate the dvd to my local charity shop, if they want it.

Riverdance has been going for ages and part of its success has been its versatility.This version from Bejing included more clips of the audience than usual and the looks on their faces showed that music and dance trancends all cultures.(I particularly liked the shot of a tiny Chinese girl dancing in the aisle trying to copy the Irish dancing).Also incorporating three chinese musicians and their unique instruments into the show was a brilliant idea.Sadly, the size of the stage was on the small side, so there were a few less troupers than usual and how some of the dancers did not fall off the stage was beyond me.I loved it,and so will you!

KonnichiwaI have watched most of the Riverdance Dvds and all are really good - However this one is simply supurb! It has such a variety of difering music/dance genere and you see shots of the audience which are sublime. The 'Russian' troup and the Spanish female dancer are incredible. Dont miss this DVD its excellent! sayonara

A wonderful dvd that I have always wanted as I love these showser