Cloud Gate Dance Theater celebrates 40th anniversary(2)

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. (Photo: CNTV)

Artistic Director and dancer I-Fang Wu would know. He studied and danced under Lin Hwai Min for almost 20 years. He says what makes Cloud Gate special is that it draws upon a person's spirit and character.

"As a modern choreographer, Lin emphasizes more on the cultivation of one's character, such as discipline, rather than one's technique… This foundation was nurtured by your cultural background, your objective perspective, and our global views… You must have this or otherwise, your dance performance would appear empty and pretentious." said I-Fang Wu, Artistic Director, Wind Dance Theater.

The choreographer, Lin Hwai Min, has trained both in the East and the West. In his works, he reaches from both sides of his training so that viewers from both the East and West can relate and be touched by his works…just one of the reasons why a small dance troupe from Taiwan has successfully risen onto the international dance stage.