To recognize the achievement of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theater (
A red signpost with "Cloud Gate Lane" printed on it was placed at the entrance of Lane 231, Fuhsing North Road, by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Liao Hsien-hao (廖咸浩) and the founder and artistic director of Cloud Gate, Lin Hwai-min (林懷民).
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"The roads with names having political symbolism have always prevailed in Taiwan -- such as Chungshan North Road or Chungcheng Road," Liao said.
"The Taipei City Government has tried to integrate fine arts into business areas and advocate them in mainstream culture," Liao said.
Liao said that designating the road "Cloud Gate Lane" was an act that marked the first time Taiwan has officially acknowlegded an artistic group's accomplishments.
"Mayor Ma said that a city is made great because of its artists, and I would say Taipei's culture is great thanks to Cloud Gate," Liao said.
"We hope to leave art imprinted on the city's map forever," Liao added.
Lin said that it is common in Europe and North America to name streets after artists or artistic groups.
"I think it is an evocative and inspiring way to draw the public into approaching art more closely," Lin said. "It inspires people's imaginations and also shows the respect of a community that is dedicated to art and culture."
Extolled as "Asia's leading contemporary dance theater" by The Times of London and the "best of the best" by the Sydney Morning Herald, Cloud Gate achieved its reputation by gathering experienced dancers proficient in various disciplines including Tai Chi, meditation, Chinese Opera movements, modern dance and ballet.
Since its founding in 1973, Cloud Gate has earned accolades both nationally and internationally.
It has performed at locales ranging from the prestigious National Theater in Taipei to small high school auditoriums in remote villages.
Free outdoor performances have drawn audiences of as many as 60,000 people.
Cloud Gate's overseas tours in cities throughout the world have thrilled local audiences and won commendations from art critics.
"Cloud Gate has developed outstanding dancers from several generations for the people of Taiwan," Ma said. "And the revival of Legacy represents Cloud Gate's everlasting energy."
Cloud Gate will perform Legacy, Lin's signature work, an epic dance piece depicting the saga of Taiwan's pioneers at the National Theater from Aug. 21 through Aug. 26.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and