Cloud Gate Dance Theater celebrates 40th anniversary

Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theater is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new work called "Rice", created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Lin Hwai-min. (Photo: CNTV)

Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theater is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new work called "Rice", created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Lin Hwai-min. CCTV reporter Peggy Wang reports on how this story reflects not only on the life-cycle of rice, but also on the life and death of human beings.

A dance inspired by the energy and the radiant beauty of Chihshang in the East Rift Valley of Taiwan, RICE is set to the music of Hakka folk songs, operatic arias and sounds from the fields, and against a video backdrop that depicts the life cycle of a rice paddy for Cloud Gate's 40th anniversary.

"From the first minute when dancers set their foot on the floor and took in their first breath, I was completely blown away. I was sucked in from their first breath. I was most deeply touched. I was next taken by the last scene when dancers held up a flag pole and announced that life begins here, is reborn and enters another life cycle." said Gary Lin, Performing Arts Student.

"It was very interesting. It was very different. It was very intense. The dancers and the actors were very focused on what they were doing to portray the cycle of life. Very wonderful production." said Bobby Carter, Theatergoer.

Since Cloud Gate, founded by choreographer, Lin Hwai-Min is already 40 years old, it is looking to train the next generation of dancers with a dance school of their own where imagination is a focus in the teachings.

"At Cloud Gate, there's no rule how children should move. All they've been asked to do is to imagine. For example, the theme of today's class is sea waves. Every child shows what they think sea waves look like. So, nothing is rigid here and children are respected for whatever gesture they make." said Elsa Hsu, Mother of Cloud Gate School Student.