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Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan: Nine Songs/Rice Tickets

Sadler's WellsLondon

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Phenomenally acclaimed both at home and on their international tours, Cloud Gate was the first contemporary dance company in any Chinese speaking community. Directed by the celebrated choreographer Lin Hwai-Min, they are known for transforming ancient aesthetics into thrillingly original performances that draw on diverse disciplines, and for their visually spectacular sets.

Based on a series of classical Chinese poems by Qu Yuan, Nine Songsdraws on ancient imagery and sensibilities to create a thoroughly contemporary piece, in which distant and recent pasts collide. Received to great acclaim across the globe, the dance reflects the cycles of nature, echoing the rich verses found in the original poetic text.

"When you're talking about Cloud Gate, magic is not too strong a word" Time Out

Co-produced by Sadler’s Wells, Rice was created to celebrate Cloud Gate’s40th anniversary, and is inspired by the landscape and story of Chihshang in the East Rift Valley of Taiwan. Previously tainted by the use of chemical fertilizer, this farming village has now regained its title as Land of Emperor Rice by adopting organic farming. Featuring folksongs in Hakka - the oldest among the existing Chinese dialects - and operatic arias from the West, this is a stunning, thought provoking piece of dance.

"Asia's leading contemporary dance theatre"
The Times