When celebrated Czech choreographer Jiří Bubeníček and his production designer brother Otto arrive in New Zealand to prepare a ballet inspired by the film The Piano for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the stage is set for a voyage into uncharted territory for everyone involved.

For the Māori advisor hired by the ballet company, the work epitomises cultural appropriation. His response challenges the concept of freedom of expression so important to the Bubeníčeks while raising questions about cultural representation in the arts. Meanwhile the dancers face challenges of a different kind as they come to terms with the characters and how to portray themAs everybody works to bring Jane Campion’s famous story to the stage, themes from the original film – old world versus new, new relationships, new challenges – play out amongst those involved, and Jiří and Otto discover the responsibilities of storytelling in dance are more complex than they ever imagined.