Everyone was Kung Fu... Dancing?

Trainees at the Ta Gou Shaolin Kung fu School in Deng Feng, Henan Province.

Tonight the National Geographic Channel will present an inside look at the legendary Shaolin Temple in Henan Province -- the site where Chinese kung fu and Zen Buddhism was born. What's interesting about this documentary is how it examines the challenges this historic temple faces in the 21st century.

That means that head Abbot Shi Yong Xin must remain glued to his cell phone as he works to book international gigs for his hundreds of monks all the while building up the the temple's business portfolio that includes property, media, tourism and health care.

Shaolin instructor Yan Xiu, seems to follow a WWBD (What Would Buddha Do?) approach to the changing times at the temple.

"I believe if our first teacher, master Bodhidharma, were alive today, he would have done the same to adapt to today's society," he said.

The latest endeavor, highlighted in the documentary, is a modern-dance-meets-kung-fu performance by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui that premiered at the Sadlers Wells dance house in London in May.

Secrets of the Kung Fu Temple airs tonight at 10 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel.