London's world-leading creative organization Sadler's Wells will be presenting a free program of full-length dance performances and workshops online to keep audiences entertained and connected through dance when world stages are dark. Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre is contributing its enduring classic "Moon Water" on May 15 to the worthy cause.
Billed as Taiwan's first contemporary dance company and revered around the world, Cloud Gate first visited Sadler's Wells in 1999 and has since continued to stun world audiences with its unique choreography by transforming ancient aesthetics into a modern celebration of motion. Now active for more than 40 years, Cloud Gate is also an important constituent of Taiwan's culture.
Founding director Lin Hwai-min is a stout proponent of how the creation of performances and dance-training programs stem from recognition of the differences between eastern and western cultures. Citing their respective mythologies and architectural aesthetics, he often points out how western ballet pursues straight and towering lines, while eastern choreography is presented in circles or curves.
Through this understanding of different styles and cultural aesthetics, Lin took a different path to develop performances for Cloud Gate, integrating Taichi Daoyin (太極導引) and Neijia (內家拳) methods — two schools of martial arts representing the internal approach to movement — to train dancers to breathe, meditate, and move
Se to Bach's Suite for Solo Cello, "Moon Water" was choreographed by Lin and first performed at Sadler's Wells in 2002. Inspired by the Buddhist proverb "Flowers in a mirror and moon on the water are both illusive," multiple mirrors and gently moving water gradually fill the stage and reflect the dancers' movements in a beautifully meditative performance.
The "Sadler's Wells Digital Stage" program will be launched on March 27 to mark World Theatre Day, with filmed dance performances available to watch live together with an online audience, or on demand for seven days thereafter. Watch the Sadler's Wells Facebook premiere of "Moon Water" on May 15 at 7.30pm BST.