[Art & Culture] Summer Highlight: Cloud Gate 40’s Free “Rice” Outdoor Performance

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Team
 

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s outdoor performances have officially entered their 20th year, covering towns and villages across Taiwan and attracting over a million spectators. This year’s outdoor series kicks off on July 18 and runs for three consecutive weekends, featuring free performances of “Rice” in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Hualien.

For twenty consecutive years, Cathay Financial Holdings has sponsored Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s outdoor performances, each drawing tens of thousands of attendees. All spectators sit neatly on the ground, refrain from taking photos or making noise during the show, and leave no litter behind, creating an exemplary level of audience etiquette that has become a source of pride in Taiwanese culture. This year’s performance features “Rice,” a commemorative work for Cloud Gate’s 40th anniversary. As dancers move across the stage, projections of rice paddies from Chihshang in Taitung display the changing seasons, evoking hope, emotion, and a sense of stability — a tribute to the land. Previous performances of this piece in London, Dresden, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Moscow received high praise, and upcoming shows are scheduled for New York and Paris. Starting July 18, free performances will be held at 7:30 PM every Saturday for three consecutive weeks, at the National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza in Taipei, the Kaohsiung Cultural Center Outdoor Amphitheater, and the Hualien Stadium. All are welcome to attend.

In addition to the performances, a “Family Movement & Wellness Day” is being held the day before each show (July 17, 24, and 31), inviting families to experience fun movement activities together. Simply register online to join Cloud Gate Classroom instructors for a joyful group dance. There’s also a “Friends Reunion” event, where past attendees (our “old friends”) can register online. Eligible participants can exchange a special “20-Year Commemorative Handmade Candy,” jointly created by Cloud Gate and Cathay Financial, at the Kaohsiung and Taipei shows. This summer, instead of traveling abroad or heading to the water, why not enjoy an evening breeze and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s captivating performance under the stars?