FORMOSA  by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Formosa: the Beautiful. In the 16th century, when approaching the coast of a verdant island, the Portuguese sailors exclaimed with admiration, “Formosa,” later to be the former name of Taiwan. Inspired by the abstract beauty born from land and lore, LIN Hwai-min’s new creation FORMOSA for Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan uses gesture, script and song to create a lustrous universe––a playground of love and life, mediated by tragedy, hope, and rebirth––against a backdrop projected with Chinese characters coming together and breaking down like waves to imply writing as a precarious vehicle for memories. Ahead of Paris, London, Dresden, and Moscow, be the first to see the performance of FORMOSA in Taiwan.

LIN Hwai-min, Concept & Choreography

LIN Hwai-min, the internationally renowned choreographer, has moved audiences in Taiwan and major cities of the West through his masterpieces rooted in Asian cultures yet vibrating with contemporary resonance. In 2013, he followed in the footsteps of Martha Graham and Pina Bausch to win the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Dance Festival, the “Nobel Prize of modern dance”.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan was founded in 1973 as the first contemporary dance company in the greater Chinese-speaking community. Directed by the internationally renowned choreographer Lin Hwai-min, Cloud Gate transforms ancient aesthetics into thrilling modern celebrations of motion. Cloud Gate dancers receive trainings from the West and the East, including meditation, Qi Gong - an ancient breathing exercise, internal martial arts, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy.

With frequent appearances in international arts festivals and venues, including Next Wave Festival New York, Sadler’s Wells London, and Moscow Chekhov International Theatre Festival, Cloud Gate receives critical acclaims throughout the world. Among them, while The Times praises Cloud Gate as “Asia’s leading contemporary dance theatre,” Dance Europe hails that it “presents a distinct and mature Chinese choreographic language. The importance of this evolution in Asian dance is no less profound than the impact of Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt on European classical ballet.”

Creative Team

Concept, Choreography / LIN Hwai-min

Recitation / CHIANG Hsun

Music / Kaija Saariaho, LIANG Chun-mei, Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw

Lighting Design / Lulu W.L. LEE

Costume Design / Apu JAN

Projection Design / CHOU Tung-yen and Very Mainstream Studio

Videography / CHANG Hao-jan (Howell)