"The Making of Cloud Gate"

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (Cloud Gate) is the first professional dance company in Taiwan, and also the first contemporary dance theatre in Chinese communities. Early this week, Cloud Gate began a new journey at the blessing ceremony for the completion of its "Tamsui Culture and Art Education Center". First and foremost, I would like to send best wishes to Cloud Gate on behalf of the HKAAA. Last week, Cloud Gate visited Hong Kong again, bringing us “Rice”, the theatre’s 40th anniversary celebratory production, at the New Vision Arts Festival held by LCSD. On such happy occasions, I would like to introduce the book “The Making of Cloud Gate” to you here. The book chapters echo the dance arrangements of “Rice”, themed as “Soil”, “Wind”, “Pollen I”, “Pollen II”, “Sunlight”, “Grain”, “Fire” and “Water.”

Published in 2013, “The Making of Cloud Gate” records the story of the 40 year-old Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, since its foundation in 1973 by the renowned Lin Hwai-min. Cloud Gate has brought to its audience 168 dance productions and the theatre is performing on tour in the country towns of Taiwan on a regular basis. Until 2013, Cloud Gate had visited 34 countries and 187 cities on its international tours, presenting about 2000 performances, producing a show every 2.6 days on average. Behind such glorious achievements, Cloud Gate went through a series of unfortunate events including a period of suspension from 1988 to 1991 due to financial difficulties, the death of two key figures of the theatre, choreographer Wu Kuo-Chu and Artistic Director of Cloud Gate 2 Lo Man-fei, and the fire at the rehearsal studio for 16 years in Bali district, Taipei. All of which are documented in the book. Judging from the perspective of management, the reason Cloud Gate managed to overcome such challenges and strive to shine on the international stage of dance theatre, is no doubt attributed to a resourceful team and its leadership with vision and courage. Hardships are transformed into opportunities for new beginnings and encouragement to the team striving to be ever better. Featured as “Cloud Gate Asteroid” in the chapter “Grain”, the theatre’s operational and financial functioning, as in how arts groups strike a balance between artistic ambitions and operational realities, is well worth a read to anyone in the art administration field.

“Rice” is a tribute to the land and people. When I was watching “Rice” last week, the chapters “Fire” and “Water” reminded me of the tragic fire that happened to Cloud Gate’s rehearsal studio, and the fact that their home is now at “Tamsui”(meaning “fresh water” literally in Chinese). “Water” brings new life. Interestingly, “The Making of Cloud Gate” is published on the occasion of the theatre’s 40th anniversary, and the opening chapter of the book, is a story of rice from Chihshang.

Lin Hwai-min started Cloud Gate from conducting dance practices at a rented 25 sq feet apartment. Today, many arts groups resort to renting apartments for rehearsals and performances owing to political circumstances and a lack of resources. From “The Making of Cloud Gate”, we read the story of Cloud Gate, a story that makes you hopeful and carry on fighting for dreams. Please click the link below to see a video on Tamsui Culture and Art Education Center’s completion.

Recap on Tamsui Culture and Art Education Center’s completion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DrCK2eppk