Dance extravaganza lifts the spirits

It’s almost 20 years since an interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest captured the spirit of a nation but the Irish have since had the smile wiped off their face.

So there is no better time for Moya Doherty and John McColgan to bring back to life all we have to be proud of in their latest spectacle Heartbeat of Home.

As the dancers in opening number ‘Heartbeat’ tap out the pulse of our souls, they drive away the cynicism of the Twitter feed and put the audience in touch with what’s innately Irish.

Featuring an international cast of 39 dancers and musicians, it’s both stirring and sentimental, spinning the playfulness and harshness of our nature around the exotic passion and sensuality of Afro-Cuban and Latin American culture.

Just as Ireland has rejuvenated itself with fresh blood from other nations, our culture has been enriched by such exposure and watching as jazz, trad, gospel, and flamenco drip then pelt on top of one another it’s hard not to recall Daniel O’Connell’s belief that Irishmen should empathise with all the subjected peoples of the world.

A tale of two communities, the first act concerns the people of disparate nations sailing to their salvation. The flavour of their storytelling is distinct and individual, moving from the traditional form to newer delights.

If you’re not hard of hearing you will be by the end. It’s so loud there’s no chance for any real subtlety to the music. And there are moments where you feel they could lay off signposting where the audience can find the craic.

However, this is a spectacle with heart and a soul that captures our fighting spirit and the potential to come back from the brink.