Think of it as Ballinasloe meets Busby Berkeley. I tend to agree with the thesis that 100 dancers is 10 times worse than 10 alone. But I think the mistake that can be made is to take it seriously, it is designed to draw in loads of punters not to glorify Irish culture. It has been tried with English culture[see Ashley Hutchings]and it has been tried on Scots culture [see Brigadoon], and haven't there been a million cowboy movies celebrating US culture.
If people come up to you and say they loved Riverdance the best thing to do would be to say "Well if you liked that, then have you heard this?" don't despise them for their 'narrow' view help them broaden it. Very few of us grew up immersed in our own folk culture and we acquired it on our way through life. So think of that when you feel inclined to laugh up your sleeve at other people's misconceptions.
Giok