*************************************************
"Moon Water" by the internationally acclaimed Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, will be staged in May to bring to Hong Kong audience Lin Hwai-min's unique choreography with Tai Chi based dance movement.
"Moon Water" is inspired by a Buddhist proverb: "Flowers in a mirror and moon on the water are both illusive" and the ideal state of Tai Chi practitioners: "Energy flows as water, while the spirit shines as the moon." Lin Hwai-min takes departure from these famous quotes to create this work, a poetic rendering of Taoist philosophy. "Moon Water" is a study of real vs unreal, effort vs effortlessness, yin and yang, and in the end, a study of time.
For the music of this contemporary work with Tai Chi movement, Lin has chosen nine movements from J S Bach's "Suites for Solo Cello". The result is a fascinating encounter of the East meeting West, rich with surprising beauty.
The production has received wide acclaim internationally since its debut in 1998:
"Best of the best... a deeply beautiful work that makes you appreciate all the praise heaped on Lin as choreographer and artistic director of this outstanding company from Taiwan" - The Sydney Morning Herald
"With Moon Water, Lin Hwai-min and his ensemble from Taiwan achieved a miraculous unity of content and technique." - Berliner Morgenpost
"In 'Moon Water', Bach's cello suites and Lin Hwai-min's Tai Chi blend together as if they had waited for each other for hundreds of years." - Ballet International
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre is founded by choreographer Lin Hwai-min in 1973. According to legend, Cloud Gate is the name of the oldest known dance in China, a ritual dance of some five thousand years ago. The Troupe's rich repertoire has its roots in Asian myths, folklore, and aesthetics while bringing a contemporary and universal perspective. Cloud Gate has made dozens of overseas tours throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and America, including engagements at the Next Wave Festival, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival, Lyon Biannual Dance Festival, etc.
Lin Hwai-min, founder and Artistic Director of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, is one of the most renowned choreographers in Asia. He often blends traditional theatre elements with Western dance techniques for his choreography, creating an arresting style that prompted the New York Times to acclaim, "Lin has succeeded brilliantly in fusing dance techniques and theatrical concepts from the East and the West." Lin was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World by Jaycees International in 1983, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Department of Culture of New York City in 1996 and the Ramon Magsaysay Award ("the Nobel Prize of Asia") in 1999, as well as many more international awards.
The Hong Kong performance of "Moon Water", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged at 7.30pm from May 3 to 4 (Friday to Saturday) at Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $280, $220, $160 and $100 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Discount tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please check out programme leaflets for other discount schemes.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries and reservation, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. To search more information on internet, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp
Furthermore, for the performance on May 3 (Friday), audience are welcome to stay for a post-performance talk conducted in Mandarin.
End/Wednesday, March 27, 2002
NNNN
