Cloud Gate Dance Theater
Encyclopedia
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan is a modern dance
group based in Taiwan
. It was founded by choreographer Lin Hwai-min
(林懷民) in 1973, and later he shared its management with his late protégé, Lo Man-fei (羅曼菲), a renowned choreographer in her own right.
, in addition to being the founder and creative force behind Cloud Gate is also an important author of short stories, and was intimately involved in the literary scene in Taiwan in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Cloud Gate thrilled the Taiwan cultural scene when it came into being in the 1970s with an unbroken series of innovative dances and dance directions. Lin Hwai-min leads the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in their first public performance at Zhongshan Hall
in Taipei
in 1970. Lin, himself, exhibits tireless curiosity about new forms and directions, and consequently Cloud Gate blends its roots in Asian mythology, folklore, and aesthetics with a modern sensibility. Dancers practice and perform using such diverse movement disciplines and artistic approaches as t'ai chi, meditation
, martial arts
, modern dance, and ballet
.
Cloud Gate created numerous dances that evoked the unique experience of Taiwan people within the larger Chinese and Asian context, including such works as White Serpent Tale (bai she zhuan), an adaptation of a centerpiece of the Chinese folk canon, Legend of the White Snake
; Crossing the Ocean (du hai), a dance rich with layered references to generations of Chinese who have crossed the Taiwan Straits to reach Taiwan; Liao Tianding, about a legendary Taiwanese Robin Hood character
who foiled oppressive officials during the period of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan
; and Wu Feng, a long form piece with echoes of The Rite of Spring
, about the Wu Feng Legend
, concerning an official from the Chinese Mainland who was involved in early efforts to pacify aborigines in Taiwan.
, Asia
, North America
, and South America
. The company also spends much of its time performing throughout Taiwan, and is generally acknowledged as the country's premier dance organisation. In recognition of its importance locally and internationally, on August 21, 2003, Taiwan's government proclaimed the day "Cloud Gate Day" and named the street on which the company's office lies "Cloud Gate Lane." This was the first time in Taiwan's history a day and place were named after a living artist or active artistic organisation.
The organisation has two branches other than its main dance company. One, called "Cloud Gate 2", tours communities and works with and helps develop young dancers and choreographers. It was founded in 1999. The other, Cloud Gate Dance School was founded in 1998 with a view to making dance education more broadly available.
"Whisper of Flowers," the first new production to be staged after the fire razed and demolished the dance company's rehearsal studio in Bali, has been a piece created in celebration of Cloud Gate's 35-year milestone.
The production was first premiered in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, on September 12, 2008.
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
group based in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was founded by choreographer Lin Hwai-min
Lin Hwai-min
Lin Hwai-min is a Taiwanese dancer, writer, choreographer, and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. He was educated at National Chengchi University in Taiwan and University of Iowa in the US....
(林懷民) in 1973, and later he shared its management with his late protégé, Lo Man-fei (羅曼菲), a renowned choreographer in her own right.
Stylistic innovations
Lin Hwai-minLin Hwai-min
Lin Hwai-min is a Taiwanese dancer, writer, choreographer, and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. He was educated at National Chengchi University in Taiwan and University of Iowa in the US....
, in addition to being the founder and creative force behind Cloud Gate is also an important author of short stories, and was intimately involved in the literary scene in Taiwan in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Cloud Gate thrilled the Taiwan cultural scene when it came into being in the 1970s with an unbroken series of innovative dances and dance directions. Lin Hwai-min leads the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in their first public performance at Zhongshan Hall
Zhongshan Hall
Zhongshan Hall is a historical building which originally functioned as the Taipei City Hall. It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending neighborhood of the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei City, Taiwan...
in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
in 1970. Lin, himself, exhibits tireless curiosity about new forms and directions, and consequently Cloud Gate blends its roots in Asian mythology, folklore, and aesthetics with a modern sensibility. Dancers practice and perform using such diverse movement disciplines and artistic approaches as t'ai chi, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, modern dance, and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
.
Cloud Gate created numerous dances that evoked the unique experience of Taiwan people within the larger Chinese and Asian context, including such works as White Serpent Tale (bai she zhuan), an adaptation of a centerpiece of the Chinese folk canon, Legend of the White Snake
Madame White Snake
The Legend of the White Snake, also known as Madame White Snake, is a Chinese legend, which existed as oral traditions before any written compilation...
; Crossing the Ocean (du hai), a dance rich with layered references to generations of Chinese who have crossed the Taiwan Straits to reach Taiwan; Liao Tianding, about a legendary Taiwanese Robin Hood character
Liao Tianding
Liao Tianding is a legendary Taiwan Robin Hood figure who foiled oppressive rulers during the period of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan.Liao Tianding was the subject of an extremely popular modern dance composition by Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan....
who foiled oppressive officials during the period of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan
Taiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
; and Wu Feng, a long form piece with echoes of The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
, about the Wu Feng Legend
Wu Feng Legend
The Wu Feng Legend is a politically controversial myth once popular in Taiwan.According to the myth, Wu Feng was a Han Chinese who befriended aborigines. He tried to persuade the A-li-shan tribe to give up their practice of headhunting, but his attempts were unsuccessful. On one occasion he...
, concerning an official from the Chinese Mainland who was involved in early efforts to pacify aborigines in Taiwan.
Organization
Known for its extensive international tours, Cloud Gate has performed in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The company also spends much of its time performing throughout Taiwan, and is generally acknowledged as the country's premier dance organisation. In recognition of its importance locally and internationally, on August 21, 2003, Taiwan's government proclaimed the day "Cloud Gate Day" and named the street on which the company's office lies "Cloud Gate Lane." This was the first time in Taiwan's history a day and place were named after a living artist or active artistic organisation.
The organisation has two branches other than its main dance company. One, called "Cloud Gate 2", tours communities and works with and helps develop young dancers and choreographers. It was founded in 1999. The other, Cloud Gate Dance School was founded in 1998 with a view to making dance education more broadly available.
2008: a new era begins for Cloud Gate
A February 11, 2008 fire destroyed the Cloud Gate Dance Theater's "1,324 m2 rehearsal studio, costume, props and production archives." Donations to rebuild totaled NT$370 million (US$12 million) from 175 business groups and 3,973 individuals (as of July 15, 2008 Taipei Times article reporting), while the government donated a former art and education site in Tamshui (淡水)."Whisper of Flowers," the first new production to be staged after the fire razed and demolished the dance company's rehearsal studio in Bali, has been a piece created in celebration of Cloud Gate's 35-year milestone.
The production was first premiered in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, on September 12, 2008.
External links
- Taiwan Culture Portal:Cloud Gate at 35 blooms with "Whisper of Flowers"
- Lo Man-fei story, 25 March 2006
- Cloud Gate Dance Theatre web site
- Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Digital Archive Project
- Hwai-min, Lin. (2006) "Body Language", ARTS HUB AUSTRALIA - www.artshub.com.au
- Cloudgate Dance Theatre: Songs of the Wanderers (1999) at IMDb