Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre will premiere its new production “Rice” in November as part of celebrations marking the troupe’s 40th anniversary, founder and choreographer Lin Hwai-min said Aug. 5.
“Inspired by my 2011 visit to Chihshang Township in Taitung County, the production uses rice as metaphor for the incarnation of life,” Lin said. “It is also about liberating the audience from physical and mental stresses stemming from day-to-day life while immersing them in the openness and freedom of nature.”
Lin, who made the remarks during a news conference to launch a book on the troupe’s history, described himself as having a “rice complex” formed during his younger years on Chianan Plain. Situated in the central-southern region of western Taiwan, the plain is the country’s largest rice-producing area.
According to Lin, the subject of rice and his emotional bond to the staple featured in previous Cloud Gate works “Legacy” in 1987 and “Songs of the Wanderers” in 1994.
“The biggest challenge for me with this production is depicting Mother Nature, who is divine and yet close to everyone,” Lin said. “I decided to get back to basics, using simple elements such as soil, sunshine, pollen, wind and rice crops to symbolize every aspect of life.”
Combining Hakka folk songs with “Casta Diva” by Maria Callas from Vincenzo Bellini’s renowned opera “Norma,” the new show is scheduled to open Nov. 22 at National Theater in Taipei City. Cloud Gate will also stage two special performances Nov. 3 and 4 in a Chihshang rice paddy. (RC-JSM)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw