Cloud Gate Dance Theater

This article is about the modern dance group. For the sculpture in Chicago, see Cloud Gate.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (Chinese: 雲門舞集; pinyin: Yúnmén Wǔjí) is a modern dance group based in Taiwan.^[1][2] It was founded by choreographer Lin Hwai-min in 1973,^[3] and later he shared its management with his late protégé, choreographer Lo Man-fei. The troupe was inactive from October 1988 to September 1990. During this time, Lin spent time abroad in India and Indonesia, and studied at New York University.^[4]

The group takes a curtain call after a 2014 performance of Crossing the Ocean and Legacy at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The minor planet 200025, discovered on 25 July 2007, was formally named 200025 Cloud Gate for Cloud Gate Dance Theater on 29 April 2010, becoming the first minor planet to be named for a Taiwanese performing arts group.^[5]

Stylistic innovations

Lin Hwai-min, the founder of Cloud Gate, is also an author of short stories. His skills as a storyteller often influences his choreography.^[6]

Established in the 1970th, Cloud Gate created an unbroken series of dances and dance directions. Under the leadership of Lin Hwai-min, the Cloud Gate Dance Theater held debut public performance at Zhongshan Hall (中山堂) in Taipei in 1972.^[7] The dance group is known for its blending of modern stylizations of Asian mythology, folklore, and ancient aesthetics. Dancers practice and perform using a diversity of movement disciplines and artistic approaches such as Qigong, t'ai chi, meditation, martial arts, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy.^[8]

Cloud Gate has produced a variety of dance productions that explore Taiwanese cultural experiences within the broader context of Chinese and Asian cultures. These productions include works such as:

• White Serpent Tale (Baishezhuan), an adaptation of the Chinese folktale Legend of the White Snake.
• Han Shih, a retelling of the legends of Jie Zhitui and the origin of the Tomb-Sweeping Festival.^[9]
• 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, a portrayal of a legendary Taiwanese Robin Hood character who foiled oppressive officials during the period of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan.^{[7]: 139–142}
• Wu Feng, a long-form piece with echoes of The Rite of Spring, based on the Wu Feng Legend concerning an official from the Chinese Mainland who was involved in early efforts to pacify aborigines in Taiwan.^[7]: 111

Organization

Known for its extensive international tours, Cloud Gate has performed in Europe, 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 organization.^[10][11] 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 organization.^[12][13]

The organization operated two other branches aside from its main dance company. One, called "Cloud Gate 2", toured communities and worked with and helped develop young dancers and choreographers. It was founded in 1999.^[14] The other, Cloud Gate Dance School was founded in 1998 with a view to making dance education more broadly available.^[15][16] After the death of Lo Man-fei, Lin Hwai-min ran Cloud Gate 2 until 2014, when Cheng Tsung-lung [zh] took over.^[17] Cheng had been with the troupe as guest choreographer since 2006.^[18]

2008: a new era begins for Cloud Gate

 

Cloud Gate Theater, located at Danshui, New Taipei City

On 11 February 2008, a fire destroyed the Cloud Gate Dance Theater's studio, costume, props and records dating to 1975 in the production archives.^[19][20] Donations to rebuild totaled NT$370 million (US$12 million) from 175 business groups and 3,973 individuals, while the government donated a former art and education site in Danshui.^[20] The Danshui facilities were inaugurated on 19 April 2015.^[21] It includes a 450-seat theater, a 1,500 person outdoor theater and two studios.^[22]

"Whisper of Flowers," the first new production to be staged after the fire razed and demolished the dance company's rehearsal studio in Bali, was a piece specifically created in celebration of Cloud Gate's 35-year anniversary.^[23] The production was first premiered in Chiayi on September 12, 2008.^[24]

In 2011, Lin attempted to weave contemporary Taiwanese music and modern love songs into How Can I Live On Without You, to show that the troupe's demographics had changed.^[25] Lin announced in November 2017 that he would retire by 2019. Cheng Tsung-lung was named Lin's successor as leader of Cloud Gate.^[26] In February 2019, Cloud Gate Dance Theater received the Stef Stefanou Award for Outstanding Company at the National Dance Awards presented by The Critics' Circle of the United Kingdom.^[27]

2020: Lin Hwai-min retires

In 2017, Lin Hwai-min announced that he would retire in 2020.^[28] Lin and the troupe began performing classic works to mark his exit from Cloud Gate, as well as the retirement of the company's senior dancers.^[29][30] Cloud Gate 2 merged with the main troupe on 31 July 2018.^[31] Lin's final performance staged at the National Theater and Concert Hall, Taipei featured a collaboration with Chinese choreographer Tao Ye.^[32] Lin continued working with Tao and Cheng throughout 2019,^[33] ending his career with a performance at National Taichung Theater in October.^[34]

See also

• Culture of Taiwan
• Performing arts in Taiwan

References

1. Qin, Amy (11 September 2015). "Cloud Gate Dance Theater: A Roving, Bounding Symbol of Taiwan". New York Times. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
2. . culturebase.net. 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
3. Brereton-Fukui, Natasha (21 February 2012). "Writing in the Air Through Dance". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
4. Brooks, Sarah (1 April 1991). "Cloud Gate Is Back". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
5. "Asteroid named after Cloud Gate Dance Theatre". Taiwan Today. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
6. "A history of Formosa in dance and words - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
7. Yang, Meng-Yu (1998). Cloud Nine:Lin Hwai-Min and Cloud Gate Dance Theater. Taipei: Tian xia yuan jian chu ban gu fen you xian gong si.
8. "Cloud Gate Dance Artists". fac.umass.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
9. Chao (2000), p. 247.
10. "Taiwan's premier dance company goes outdoors - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
11. Qin, Amy (2015-09-11). "Cloud Gate Dance Theater: A Roving, Bounding Symbol of Taiwan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
12. Huang, Jewel (16 August 2003). "Cloud Gate celebrates 30 years of dance". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
13. Roy, Sanjoy (7 October 2009). "Step-by-step guide to dance: Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
14. Chen, Christie (3 December 2015). . Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015. Alt URL
15. Bartholomew, Ian (12 September 2013). "The dance of life". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
16. Mead, David (January 2009). "A Creative Ethos: Teaching and Learning at the Cloud Gate Dance School in Taiwan" (PDF). Congress on Research in Dance Conference Proceedings. 41: 278–283. doi:10.1017/S2049125500001229.
17. Baker, Diane (17 April 2014). "Cloud Gate 2 grows up". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
18. Baker, Diane (4 April 2009). "Cloud Gate 2 at 10". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
19. "Blaze destroys Cloud Gate Dance Theater studio in Taipei County". China Post. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
20. "Donors give NT$370m to Cloud Gate". Taipei Times. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
21. . Want China Times. Central News Agency. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 July 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
22. Baker, Diane (17 April 2015). "Cloud Gate 2 prepares to take center stage". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
23. Baker, Diane (19 September 2008). "Paradise lost". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
24. Hu, Shun-hsiang (21 August 2008). "WHISPER OF FLOWERS". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
25. Baker, Diane (18 November 2011). "The collective memory of song". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
26. Baker, Diane (23 November 2017). "Cloud Gate founder Lin Hwai-min set to retire in 2019". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
27. Tai, Ya-chen; Chung, Yu-chen (19 February 2019). "Cloud Gate Dance Theater wins prestigious British dance award". Central News Agency. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
28. Baker, Diane (23 November 2017). "Cloud Gate founder Lin Hwai-min set to retire in 2019". Taipei Times. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
29. Baker, Diane (15 November 2018). "A fond farewell". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
30. Baker, Diane (17 July 2020). "A summertime tradition goes digital". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
31. Baker, Diane (1 August 2019). "A glorious night to celebrate a legacy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
32. Huang, Tzu-ti (24 July 2019). "Curtain falls for Cloud Gate's Lin Hwai-min". Taiwan News. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
33. Baker, Diane (17 October 2019). "Reviews: Quiet mastery and sheer fun at Weiwuying". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
34. Cheng, Ching-Tse (28 October 2019). "Founder of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Theatre presents final work". Taiwan News. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

Bibliography

• Chao Yu-ling (May 2000), Dance, Culture, and Nationalism: The Socio-Cultural Significance of Cloud Gate Dance Theater in Taiwanese Society (PDF), London: City University.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.

• Cloud Gate Dance Theater web site (in Chinese)
• Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan Digital Archive Project (in Chinese)
• Cloud Gate Dance Theater collected news and commentary at The Guardian  
• Cloudgate Dance Theater: Songs of the Wanderers (1999) at IMDb