Published on Sep 13, 2017

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: November 2-5, 2017

Times: 7:30pm

Venue: Opera House of NCPA

Prices: 100, 180, 280, 400, 460, 520, 580, 680

Features: From November 2-5, the best known Cloud Gate Dance Theatre will be presents the Rice at opera house of NCPA, the inspiration for Rice came from the landscape and story of Chihshang in the East Rift Valley of Taiwan.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

The inspiration for Rice came from the landscape and story of Chihshang in the East Rift Valley of Taiwan. Previously tainted by the use of chemical fertilizer, this farming village has now regained its title as the Land of the Emperor’s Rice by adopting organic farming and has exported its rice to EU countries.

Awed by the immense waves of grain rolling across expansive fields of rice, and inspired by the environmentally-conscious farmers, Lin took the dancers to Chihshang, where they joined the farmers in harvesting the rice. Out of this experience in the field, Lin has created exuberant yet powerful movements woven through Soil, Sunlight, Wind, Water and Fire, telling the story of the land while contemplating the devastation of Earth.

Folksongs in Hakka, the oldest among the existing Chinese dialects, and operatic arias from the West, as well as the rustling of grain, soughing of wind and pealing of thunder recorded on-site, complete the soundscape.

A cinematographer spent two years on location capturing the cultivation of rice: flooding, sprouting, harvesting and burning of the field. These video images – of clouds reflected in the water, rice swaying in the wind, and fire ravaging the fields – have become the essential visual elements of the production. Immersed in this landscape, the formidable Cloud Gate dancers, trained in Qi Gong and Internal Martial Arts, enact a human drama parallel to the life cycle of rice. A work about death and rebirth, devastation and resurrection.

Lin Hwai-min Founder/Artistic Director of Cloud Gate
A writer-turned choreographer, Lin Hwai-min often draws inspiration from Asian cultures and aesthetics to create works with contemporary resonance. He founded Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan in 1973 and Cloud Gate 2 in 1999.

In 2013, he received the prestigious Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement. Previous awardees include Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch, and William Forsythe. Lin is the first recipient based in Asia.

Among other honours received by Lin Hwai-min are honorary doctorates from six universities in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award, the Distinguished Artist Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Ministry of Culture, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Movimentos Festival, Germany. He has also been celebrated by Time Magazine as one of Asia’s Heroes.

Invited by the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, Lin Hwai-min is the mentor of dance for 2012-2013.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

Cloud Gate is the name of the oldest known dance in China. In 1973, choreographer Lin Hwai-min adopted this classical name for the first contemporary dance company in the greater Chinese-speaking community.

The 24 dancers comprising Cloud Gate receive training in meditation; Qi Gong, an ancient breathing exercise; internal martial arts; modern dance; ballet; and calligraphy. Through Lin Hwai-min’s choreographies the company transforms ancient aesthetics into a thrilling and modern celebration of motion.

Cloud Gate has toured extensively with frequent engagements at the Next Wave Festival in New York, the Sadler's Wells Theatre and Barbican Centre in London, the Moscow Chekhov International Theatre Festival, the Movimentos Festival (Germany) and the Internationales Tanzfest NRW directed by Pina Bausch.

Tickets for Cloud Gate Dance Theatre - Rice are Available now!