Overlooking a life on stage and screen

Featuring dance theater's founder, Lin Hsiu-wei (林秀偉), who happens to be Wu's wife and newcomer Wu Tsai-ling (吳采璘), who just happens to be Wu's daughter, Silk Road is more of a family affair.

"Of course, it's very different from performing with a large group of actors who you don't really know. Not that I have it easy because I'm the director's husband," Wu says with a laugh. "There were occasions during rehearsals when, because of my training, I'd dance with a little too much vigor for Lin's liking and she'd tell me so in no uncertain terms to calm down."

Telling of the legendary discovery of silk over 2,000 years ago by the wife of the famed Yellow Emperor, the production intertwines the myth with the life of a silkworm.

The style of dance requisite of Silk Road may be a stark contrast to Wu's previous performances, but the story that unfolds is, like many of Wu's ventures, timeless and offers audiences a journey into a dream-like world.

"It should prove a very nice way to return to the stage as part of a troupe. It has given me the chance to explore an avenue of dance I haven't explored in many years," said Wu. "And it will give audiences who are familiar with my behemoth productions a chance to take in a more refined and delicate style of legendary performance."

The Silk Road (飛天) will be performed at National Taiwan Arts Education Institute (國立台灣藝術教育館) 47 Nanhai Road, Taipei (臺北市南海路47號) Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 at 7:30pm. Tickets for all performances cost between NT$300 and NT$1,000 and are available through all national ticketing agencies or at the door.