Ministry of Culture-Performance Venues & Architectural Heritage

"Rice,” the human drama of environmental devastation and resurrection told through the life cycle of the humble crop plant, will unfold across the U.S. as Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre tours California, Texas, and Washington, D.C. from Jan. 22 through Feb. 13.

"Rice” was created in celebration of Cloud Gate's 40th anniversary in 2013. Choreographed by founder Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), the piece takes inspiration from Chihshang (池上), a rural township famous for rice production in eastern Taiwan. Lin asked his dancers to participate in the rice harvest and brought the experience on stage.

Combining Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and contemporary dance, the production opens with dancers weaving against a projected video footage of rice fields. Through the dynamic movement of its dancers, "Rice” presents the full scope of humanity, nature, and rebirth. It is Lin's tribute to the universal cycle of life and death.

• "A sharply moving synthesis of man and nature, east and west, death and rebirth...Lin Hwai-min's own song of the earth.” — The Guardian

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• "Asia's leading contemporary dance theatre.” — The Times

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• "Watching Cloud Gate, you are gently seduced into rethinking your ideas about dance.” — The Washington Post

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• "When you're talking about Cloud Gate, magic is not too strong a word.” — Time Out

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Jan. 22 - 23 | University of California, Berkeley

• Time: 8pm
• Venue: Zellerbach Hall
• Address: 101 Zellerach Hall, #4800, Berkeley, CA
• Site: http://calperformances.org

Jan. 29 - 31 | The Music Center, Los Angeles

• Time: 7.30pm (2pm on Jan. 31)
• Venue: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
• Address: 1135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
• Site: http://www.musiccenter.org

Feb. 2 | University of California, Santa Barbara

• Time: 8pm
• Venue: The Granada Theatre
• Address: 1214 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
• Site: https://artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu
• Artist Conversation with Lin Hwai-min: Feb. 2 @ 4pm (free)

Feb. 5 | AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas

• Time: 8pm
• Venue: Winespear Opera House
• Address: 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
• Site: http://www.attpac.org

Feb. 8 | University of Texas, Austin

• Time: 8pm
• Venue: Bass Concert Hall
• Address: 2350 Robert Dedman Drive
• Site: http://texasperformingarts.org
• Lecture Demonstration: Feb. 9 @ 11am (Call 512.471.2131)

Feb. 12 - 13 | The Kennedy Center, D.C.

• Time: 7pm
• Venue: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
• Address: 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC
• Site: https://www.kennedy-center.org
• Master Class: Feb. 10 @ 7pm (ticketed entry)