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Cloud Gate founder, director knighted

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre founder and artistic director Lin Hwai-min, left, is awarded a medal of honor yesterday in recognition of his contributions to dance and dance education by French Institute director Jean-Claude Poimboeuf at a ceremony in the grand foyer of the National Theater in Taipei. Lin was made a knight in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France. PHOTO: CNA

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (雲門舞集) founder and artistic director Lin Hwai-min (林懷民) was made a knight in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) by France at a ceremony in the grand foyer of the National Theater yesterday.

The presentation was made by French Institute director Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, who said the honor was conferred in recognition of Lin’s achievements as one of the world’s great choreographers and for his many contributions to dance and dance education.

To a backdrop of popping champagne corks, Poimboeuf, speaking in Mandarin, said Lin and his companies have been cultural ambassadors for Taiwan to the world, while Lin has also brought renowned creative giants such as British choreographer Akram Khan and Chinese avant garde artist Cai Guoquing (蔡國強) to Taiwan and had founded the dance department at the National Taipei University for the Arts.

The Philippines, Germany and other countries had honored Lin, Poimboeuf said, and now it was France’s turn. He then pinned the eight-point silver asterisk knight’s medal on Lin.

On hand for the presentation were most of the dancers in the Cloud Gate and Cloud Gate 2 companies and other members of the “Cloud Gate family,” and Lin paid tribute to them in his remarks. He also thanked the people of Taiwan for their long-term support for his companies.

“It’s a myth that modern dance has to struggle in the beginning,” Lin said. “There were full houses for Cloud Gate’s first performances at the Chungshan Tang [Chungshan Hall] and there were ticket scalpers outside. Society has supported us right from the start.”

The support has continued right up to the present, he said, adding that after the disastrous fire that destroyed the company’s Bali (八里), Taipei County, base in February, they received lots of letters, including a massive book from the staff of Bo Ai Hospital — everyone from the president down to the janitors had written messages of support that were bound together.

Lin also said he was proud to be included in the ranks of illustrious modern dance choreographers, such as Americans Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham, who have also been named knights of the order.

“The award is really for everybody,” he told the Taipei Times after the ceremony. “But you can’t chop it up into pieces.”

The Order of Arts and Literature was established in 1957 to recognize significant contributions to the fields of arts and literature. There are three grades: commander, officer and knight.
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