Cloud Gate `lite' tours

While its big brother Cloud Gate (雲門舞集) has just wrapped up a hugely successful nationwide tour, the youth wing of Lin Huai-min's (林懷民) internationally acclaimed dance troupe, Cloud Gate 2 (雲門舞集2) is set to embark on its own tour of Taipei, Hsinchu, Chiayi and Ilan this week.

Entitled Spring Gathering 2004 (春季公演春鬥2004), Cloud Gate 2's latest production comprises four shows -- Spring in the Hospital (醫院裡的春天), Oculus (斷章), Monday 2:10pm (星期一下午2:10) and 9x Table -- all of which have been written by four choreographers who live, work and draw inspiration from very contrasting parts of the world.

The series explores the many faces of modern dance, its spiritual and material dimensions, as seen from the perspective of choreographers based in Taiwan, the UK, Germany and New York. With the exception of Briton Charlotte Vincent, the other three works have been written by ex-Cloud Gate members, all of whom have since become internationally acclaimed dance instructors and choreographers.

Established in 1999, Cloud Gate 2 was initially founded as an offshoot of the original group in order to develop future dancers and choreographers. While some of those who work with the troupe still go on to become full time members of the main group, many others have established their own dance organizations, or have become dance instructors both in Taiwan and abroad.

The group, which comprises a dozen full-time dancers' aged from 18 to 25, undertakes numerous lecture/demonstration programs every year. It's "Campus Residency Project" -- in close conjunction with universities, colleges and community centers -- is considered to be one of the finest dance courses in Taiwan.

Under the choreography of first-generation Cloud Gate member Lo Man-fei (羅曼菲), Cloud Gate 2 has not only become the academic wing of the nation's leading dance troupe, but has also proven itself time and time again as a dance group in its own right.

Its seasonal performances -- which are showcase works by both local and international young choreographers -- have become as popular and highly thought of as those by its internationally renowned big brother.

Performance notes:

Where: Cloud Gate 2 will perform Spring Gathering 2004 at Taipei's Novel Hall (新舞台)this weekend.

When: Performances begin at 7:45pm tonight and tomorrow and additional matinees will take place at 2:45pm tomorrow and Sunday.

Tickets for Taipei shows cast from NT$400 to NT$1,000 and are available direct from the venue or from the CKS Cultural Center's booking office.

The Novel Hall is located at 3-1, Songshou Rd., Taipei(臺北市松壽路3-1)

Additional tour dates and venues are as follows: May 1, National Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu (交通大學中正堂)May 8, National Chung Cheng University in Chiayi(中正大學大禮堂)May 28 and 29 Ilan Performing Arts Center(文化局演藝廳). Tickets for these performances cost from NT$300 to NT$900 and are available direct from the venues.