The National Theater/National Concert Hall complex is the center of Taipei’s dance universe this weekend.
The Greater Kaohsiung-based Solar Site Dance Company (索拉舞蹈空間) has made one of its rare treks to Taipei this week to perform its latest work at the Experimental Theater. The nine-year-old troupe was founded by Pan Ta-chien (潘大謙) and takes its name and inspiration from the sun, focusing its energies on creating works inspired by contemporary social issues and problems of an increasingly globalized, materialistic and commercialized world.
Pan and artistic director is Cheng Hsiao-lan (程曉嵐) see art as a positive force for society, and have often chosen to work with young choreographers who are trying to develop new, more experimental movements and vocabularies. Their productions have also become more multi-media over the years as they have collaborated with artists from fields outside of dance to create more integrated performances.
Photo courtesy of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre
Their latest production, Outsider Alley (歐西打街), choreographed by Pan, attempts to make dance theater more three-dimensional through the use of scaffolding that challenges not only the dancers, but audiences as well.
One of the ideas behind the show is that everyone is an “outsider,” an “exile” within their everyday, ordinary lives as they struggle to respond and adapt to contemporary life.
While Solar is trying to come to grips with modern life inside the National Theater today and tomorrow, thousands of people will brave the heat, humidity and hard pavement outside in Liberty Square tonight.
Photo courtesy of Solar Site Dance Company
HIGHLIGHTS OF CLOUDGATE
One of the rewards for dance fans living in Taipei is Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s (雲門舞集) annual summertime outdoor performance, which usually draws several thousand people, starry skies or showery, although the threat of a typhoon a few days ahead of last year’s scheduled performance did force the company to reluctantly cancel that show.
However, this year the company is telling people to bring their rain slickers if necessary — along with a groundsheet, blanket or pillow to sit on. Experience has shown that bringing paper fans, drinks and lots of tissues to wipe sweaty brows are also crucial to enjoying the show.
Since these performances draw whole families, many of whom have never seen the company inside a theater, the square starts to get crowded well ahead of the 7:30pm start time. In 2012, the company was amazed to see the first person show up shortly after noon.
Despite the crowds, Cloud Gate staffers and scores of volunteers have a well-honed system in place, from organizing orderly rows — the stage and two big screens are set up behind the National Theater and seating area extends to the back of the Concert Hall, to mini-exercise sessions to keep legs from going numb, to the post-show cleanup.
This year’s show is entitled “Highlights of Cloud Gate” and features excerpts from two of troupe founder and artistic director Lin Hwai-min’s (林懷民) most beloved works — Legacy (渡海) and Moon Water (水月) — as well as Pine Smoke (松煙, previously known as Cursive II) and How Can I Live On Without You (如果沒有你), which the company performed in its entirety at the 2012 outdoor show.
Legacy tells the story of the people who migrated across “Black Water” of the Taiwan Strait centuries ago. However, it historical ties are not just to the story of Taiwan’s early settlers. The show premiered on Dec. 16, 1978, the same day that the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of Beijing, thus ensuring its place in the hearts of Taiwanese. It has been years since the troupe has performed the full work, so tonight’s excerpt —“The Crossing” — will be a special treat.
The Pine Smoke segment is a preview of a coming attraction, as the company will be performing the full work at the National Theater from Nov. 27 to Nov. 30.
Performance notes:
WHAT: Outsider Alley (歐西打街)
WHEN: Today at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm
WHERE: Experimental Theater (國家實驗劇場), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
ADMISSION: NT$500, available at NTCH box offices, online at www.artsticket.com and at 7-Eleven ibon and other convenience store kiosks
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES: July 27 at 7:30pm and July 28 at 2:30pm at the Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihteh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市五福一路67號)
Admission: NT$400 and NT$500; available online at www.artsticket.com, at 7-Eleven ibon and other convenience store kiosks or at the door
WHAT: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre annual outdoor performance
WHEN: Saturday at 7:30pm
WHERE: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza (Liberty Square), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
ADMISSION: Free
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE: Saturday, July 19 at 7:30pm in 7/19 (六)19:30 Taoyuan Arts Center Outdoor Plaza (開演 桃園藝文園區廣場), No.1188-1, Zhongzheng Rd, Zhongli City, Taoyuan County (桃園縣中正路1188號)
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