According to legend, Cloud Gate is the name of the oldest known dance in China, a ritual dance of some 5,000 years ago. In 1973, choreographer Lin Hwai-min adopted this classical name for the first contemporary dance company in any Chinese speaking community: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan.
Cloud Gate’s rich repertoire has its roots in Asian myths, folklore, and aesthetics, but it brings to these age-old beliefs and stories a contemporary and universal perspective. The company is made up of two dozen dancers whose training includes Tai Chi Tao Yin (an ancient form of Chi Kung), meditation, martial arts, Chinese Opera movement, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy.
Cloud Gate has been on extensive overseas tours throughout the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America, including engagements at New York’s Next Wave Festival, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival, Lyon Biennale De La Danse, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival, Berlin Festival, the festival celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Barbican Centre in London, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Kennedy Center.