Cloud Gate: 50 Years of Singing the Song of the Wanderers
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Lunar Halo. © CHANG Chen-chou
Contemporary dance started as a movement of dancers who did not want to follow strict classical ballet. You might often connect this popular dance form to big names including Martha Graham and Akram Khan who are part of the European and American dance scene. However, did you know that for the past 50 years, a modern dance company in Taiwan has performed in nearly every corner of the island as well as around the globe? They are Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, also known worldwide as Cloud Gate. Here are some interesting facts about Cloud Gate, who will be performing their new production Lunar Halo at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre from 30 November until 2 December 2023.
50 Years of Journey, Two Distinguished Directors
LIN Hwai-min is the founder of the company. LIN did not begin dancing until he was twenty-three years old and studying literature in the United States. Led by the goal of “Composed by Chinese, choreographed by Chinese, for a Chinese audience” LIN choregraphed an enormous quantity of works inspired by Chinese stories, aesthetics and philosophies. In 2013, LIN received the prize for lifetime achievement awarded by American Dance Festival, a prestigious award previously given to such luminaries as Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Pina Bauch and William Forsythe. At the end of 2019, after serving for 46 years as director, he retired from the company.
In 2020, CHENG Tsung-lung succeeded Lin as the company’s artistic director. CHENG’s track is strikingly different from LIN. He spent his childhood in the night market, assisting his parents selling slippers. This experience allowed him to talk to different people while observing and experience the coarse exuberance of life of the underclass labourer. His parents didn't care much for him and sent him to dance lessons in order to burn off his over-exuberant energy. Henceforth, in addition to following on Lin’s path of creating works with traditional roots, CHENG draws inspiration for his artwork from his own experiences as well. And as representative of the new generation, his work also utilises innovative perspective from the digital as well as globalised word.
A Unique Way of Training
It's possible that many of you enjoy watching the dance classes that are livestreamed on World Ballet Day each year. Cloud Gate has been participating in the livestream. It is interesting to compare how different companies structure their classes and training to address every requirement of the pieces they perform. Reflecting Cloud Gate’s creations, the company’s dancers receive training in meditation; Qi Gong, an ancient breathing exercise; internal martial arts; modern dance; and ballet. Manifested in choreography, the company transforms ancient aesthetics into a thrilling and modern celebration of motion.
Dance for Everyone
“I have never seen any audience like Cloud Gate’s, you can hear the sound of a needle dropping on the floor and it’s outdoors!” This was stated by a viewer who was taken aback by his initial viewing of Cloud Gate in Taiwan. “Dance for everyone” is the moto of Cloud Gate. Cloud Gate is the name of the oldest known dance in China. In 1973, LIN Hwai-min adapted this classical name as well as constructed the first contemporary dance company in the greater Chinese-speaking community. For a half-century, the company has been dedicated to telling the stories which influenced generations of people in Taiwan in their unique dance language.
Your nearest chance to watch Cloud Gate: Lunar Halo in London
There is nothing like seeing Cloud Gate with your own eyes. Watching them on screen is just not quite the same. Similarly, we can ask in general: if we can fulfil our wants and aspirations with just a few taps of a screen, what is the purpose of the human body? CHENG Tsung-lung explored this question through the creation of an artwork called Lunar Halo. In this piece, dancers interact with each other in different shapes along with multiple LED panels that are filled with fluidly moving shapes, colours as well as images so that the dancer’s sheer physicality can highlight the company’s thinking on this question. Cloud Gate is bringing Lunar Halo to Sadler’s Wells Theatre from 30 November to 2 December 2023. If you're a London resident, this is your best shot!
Warning: The piece and its trailer might be disturbing to some younger viewers.
Click here to watch Cloud Gate’s unique training.