Cloud Gate Dance Theater

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 genesis of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre was rooted in Lin Hwai-min's youthful desire to profoundly impact society, mirroring the "barefoot doctors" of the Cultural Revolution who endeavored to improve healthcare in impoverished rural areas.^[5]

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.^[6] Cloud Gates's performances have covered a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the enchanting narratives of classical literature and folk tales to the intricate depictions of Taiwanese history and the multifaceted observations of social phenomena. The company's dedication to connecting with its audience is evident through its diverse venues, ranging from the prestigious National Theater in Taipei to more localized settings such as cultural centers, gymnasiums, and school auditoriums throughout various towns and counties across Taiwan. The theatre's commitment to accessibility and community engagement is further highlighted by its annual outdoor performances, which draw crowds of up to 60,000 people on one occasion, underlining their art's widespread appeal and cultural significance.^[7]

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre has not only been a platform for showcasing the rich tapestry of dance but has also served as a fertile ground for nurturing talent, with many of Taiwan's most celebrated modern dancers, including Lin Hsiu-wei, Lo Man-fei, and Liu Shao-lu. These individuals have achieved personal success and contributed to the broader dance community by establishing their dance groups, extending the influence of Cloud Gate's artistic vision. The dancers at Cloud Gate, primarily alumni of Taiwan's prestigious dance programs, bring a diverse skill set to the company, trained in modern dance, ballet, Peking opera movements, Tai Chi, and meditation.^[8]

Lin Hwai-min, the founder of Cloud Gate, is also an author of short stories. His skills as a storyteller often influences his choreography.^[9]

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.^[10] 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, tai chi, meditation, martial arts, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy.^[11]

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.^[12]
• 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.^{[10]: 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.^[10]: 111

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.^[13][14] 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.^[15][16]

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.^[17] The other, Cloud Gate Dance School was founded in 1998 with a view to making dance education more broadly available.^[18][19] After the death of Lo Man-fei, Lin Hwai-min ran Cloud Gate 2 until 2014, when Cheng Tsung-lung [zh] took over.^[20] Cheng had been with the troupe as guest choreographer since 2006.^[21]

In a significant expansion of its educational outreach, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre established the "Cloud Gate Dance Workshop" in 1998, leveraging its accumulated professional expertise to develop the "Living Rhythm" teaching materials. These resources were designed to foster a deeper connection between students and the art of dance, encouraging them to explore their bodies and cultivate their unique rhythmic expressions through innovative and engaging teaching methodologies. This initiative was followed by introducing "Cloud Gate 2" in May 1999, a subsidiary ensemble aimed at broadening the theatre's reach by performing in schools and communities across Taiwan. "Cloud Gate 2" not only serves to extend the theatre's artistic reach but also provides a platform for young Taiwanese choreographers through its annual "Spring Riot" performance.^[22] The "Artistic Campus" program, initiated in 2000, has further demonstrated Cloud Gate's commitment to education, impacting nearly 2,300 students.^[23]

The theatre's engagement with the community extends beyond the stage through initiatives such as the "Artistic Residency in Counties" project launched in 2007, which aims to embed the company within urban and rural communities to foster local arts development. Furthermore, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's involvement in fundraising tours for disaster relief efforts, from the 921 earthquake to the Typhoon Morakot floods, exemplifies its dedication to leveraging its artistic platform for societal benefit, aiding in the reconstruction of communities devastated by natural disasters.^[24]

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.^[25][26] 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.^[26] The Danshui facilities were inaugurated on 19 April 2015.^[27] It includes a 450-seat theater, a 1,500 person outdoor theater and two studios.^[28]

"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.^[29] The production was first premiered in Chiayi on September 12, 2008.^[30]

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.^[31] Lin announced in November 2017 that he would retire by 2019. Cheng Tsung-lung was named Lin's successor as leader of Cloud Gate.^[32] 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.^[33]

In 2017, Lin Hwai-min announced that he would retire in 2020.^[34] 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.^[35][36] Cloud Gate 2 merged with the main troupe on 31 July 2018.^[37] Lin's final performance staged at the National Theater and Concert Hall, Taipei featured a collaboration with Chinese choreographer Tao Ye.^[38] Lin continued working with Tao and Cheng throughout 2019,^[39] ending his career with a performance at National Taichung Theater in October.^[40]

Cheng Tsung-lung succeeded Lin Hwai-min as Artistic Director of Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan in 2020.^[41]

The story of Lin Hwai-min and Cloud Gate has been chronicled in the book "Soaring Dance: Lin Hwai-min and the Cloud Gate Legend," written by Meng-yu Yang and published by Commonwealth Publishing in 1998.^[42] The documentary "Dance, Song - Cloud Gate 30," supervised by Chang Chao-tang,^[43] was produced and distributed by the Public Television Service Foundation. Several of Cloud Gate's performances have been filmed and released as dance videos. "Songs of the Wanderers" was filmed in the Netherlands, "Water Stains on the Wall" in France, "Bamboo Dream" in Germany, and "Cursive II" in Switzerland. These films have been broadcast on multiple national television channels and released globally on DVD-Video. Additionally, a series of DVDs including "Cloud Gate - The Legend," the "Cursive Trilogy," "Dream of the Red Chamber," "Nine Songs," and "Trace of Leak" have been released by King Records.

• Culture of Taiwan
• Performing arts in Taiwan

• 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.

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 Archived 2008-08-07 at the Wayback Machine (in Chinese)
• Cloud Gate Dance Theater collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Cloudgate Dance Theater: Songs of the Wanderers (1999) at IMDb