For Lin, it is this energy which is the most direct form of communication.
While Moon Water was extremely slow, Lin said with Cursive, he has greatly increased the range of movement. "This is because the dancers' bodies are more capable now," Lin said.
Lin has put considerable time and energy into training Taiwan's dancers, creating the department of dance at the Taipei National Institute of the Arts (台
Cursive is the product of these many years of development in dance, with dancers of a caliber to allow Lin to strive for "pure aesthetics." He said he had wanted to do a performance like this for 20 years, but only now are Taiwan's dancers ready for the challenge.
"We play a game, they challenge me and I challenge them," he said. While the dancers in Cursive dance against a backdrop of some of China's greatest calligraphy, Lin said he wanted to distance himself from interpretation of these texts. They are cropped in such a way they cannot really be read. The music was especially composed for the performance, joining traditional Chinese instruments with a cello, which provides the gravity and bass tones.
Once complete, Cloud Gate will resume its arduous touring schedule. Last year, Cloud Gate spent four months on the road, and this year five months will be spent on tour. Although now set to open, such is Cloud Gate's reputation that Cursive has already been booked for numerous engagements at international events in coming years.
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