Drawing on calligraphy

A perfect combination of Chinese calligraphy, dance movements and theatrical elements, Cursive is performed by the renowned Taiwan contemporary dance company Cloud Gate and is a must-see.

Lin Hwai-min, founder and director of Cloud Gate Dance Theater, draws on the essence of calligraphy, as dancers embody the flow of energy in a brush stroke.

At the beginning, a dancer in black moves her body to copy the powerful strokes of characters written by Wang Xizhi (321-379). The motion of the bodies "writing" characters is introduced with the video projection of a character written on a huge white screen. It is a marvelous effect.

"I am fascinated by Chinese calligraphy. I like Wang Xizhi and Su Dongpo's works, Zhang Xu's cursive and Huai Su's wild cursive, all are inspiration for the Cursive Trilogy. I created the production as a dialogue between young dancers of the 21st century and the calligraphists of hundreds of years ago," says Lin, the veteran dancer and choreographer, one of the world's most influential choreographers.

Lin came late to modern dance, at 23. He and a dozen dancers with the same vision gathered together and performed in the countryside, at schools and communities, "to make some contribution to society."

He named the company Cloud Gate, because according to Chinese legend, Cloud Gate was a ritual dance some 5,000 years ago, making it the oldest dance in China.

"When I was a rebellious teenager, I did not listen to Peking Opera or Kunqu Opera. I liked Stravinsky and the Beatles. Then, when I formed the company, I decided to trace back my Chinese roots and create our own contemporary dance. So all the company members shared the idea of a Chinese composer, Chinese choreography and Chinese dancers performing to a Chinese audience."

Under his direction, Cloud Gate Dance Theater has explored traditional Chinese disciplines, including meditation and martial arts. Their works, such as Songs of the Wanderers, Moon Water and Cursive, have all received international acclaim.

7:30 pm Nov 28, 29. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square. 6655-0000

国家大剧院