'Nine Songs' swan song (2)

Cultural foundation

Works by Cloud Gate have a reputation of being deep and complicated, containing layers of themes. Murong Xixi, an associate professor at Beijing Dance Academy said that we always feel that we have seen all of Lin's works and read enough about him, but then there are always new discoveries from watching his shows and listening to his lectures.

Legend of the White Snake has elements from Chinese operas. Moon Water involves tai chi in dance moves backed by Bach. The Cursive trilogy is inspired by calligraphy.

Murong told the Global Times that Lin has been "searching poses" from ballet, operas and all kinds of art forms to match his changing ideas about his early works. This exploration in art was later transferred from "text, form and cultural symbol" to a more sophisticated spirit. Cloud Gate dancers learn all kinds of styles as well as Chinese opera and tai chi. Breath control and calligraphy are also part of the training.

The music used also comes from Western classics, Japanese, Indian folk songs and ethnic Chinese melodies.

"His works are not only performances but also a kind of art education. They are made for the people, artistic and international," said Zhao.

Ups and downs

Lin studied literature at the University of Iowa and took up modern dance as a hobby. In 1973, he came back to Taiwan and met a group of young people who loved dance as much as he did. In order to find a stage to perform on, Lin created Cloud Gate, thinking he would leave it to professionals in the future. Beyond expectation, their first show achieved huge success and turned Lin's career around. That year, he was 26.

The road ahead for Cloud Gate was not all that bright. Following the rapid economic development of Taiwan in the late 1980s, Cloud Gate was "left behind." Even though the troupe was welcomed abroad, Lin decided to shut it down.

He changed his mind after a conversation with a taxi driver who recognized him and asked why he stopped Cloud Gate. "You must continue," the Taxi driver said. Lin got out of the car, and the driver insisted on returning Lin's money and said, "Cheer Up!" Lin realized that Cloud Gate had evolved in the local culture, which helped him regain focus and passion.

In 1999, Lin created Cloud Gate 2 for younger dancers and choreographers. In the past decade they have created new works and performed them at different colleges.

"He's not walking alone. He had a 'child' with him," said Zhao.

Now, dancers who perform the leading roles in Nine Songs are about 40 years old. Lin hopes to seal the box of Nine Songs after this round, leaving time and space for new works.

"How can Cloud Gate not perform such an essential show in the future? Won't you miss it?" one of the journalists from Taiwan asked during the press conference.

"There are too many separations that you don't want to have in life," Lin responded.

But as Zhao said, performances by Cloud Gate always leave something in the audience's heart: that might be just enough for Lin and us.

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