Cloud Gate Dance Theatre is the Pride of Taiwan

By Chen Chi-Hsiang. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan is one of the world’s most prominent modern dance companies and a vanguard of Taiwan’s cultural diplomacy. From this month, they embark on a European tour, with their premiere at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. I was fortunate to witness Lin Hwai-min’s brilliant new work, Rice, in Paris. Although I had seen it two years ago at the Mingxiong Performing Arts Hall in Chiayi, Taiwan, the experience abroad felt particularly profound. It was as if my hometown were calling out to me, a call rooted in deep emotional ties to the land and culture that shook my heart and filled me with pride in being Taiwanese.

The exquisite dance skills in Rice, along with the local emotions and consciousness behind them, stir the nerves and soul of the Taiwanese people and move the hearts of the Parisian audience, leaving them deeply touched. Rice is a masterpiece representing the deepest connection to the land of Taiwan, showcasing the vitality, turbulence, energy, and spiritual grandeur of the island. It presents the life consciousness of this beautiful treasure island, praising the tension and power of artistic expression. I thank Cloud Gate and its soul, Mr. Lin Hwai-min, and wish them success in their European tour. You are the pride of the Taiwanese people.

The performance poster and images from the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, are sourced from Cloud Gate’s online files.