Cloud Gate celebrates 30th anniversary with outdoor Taipei performance

雲門舞集（Cloud Gate）慶祝成立30週年，在台北舉辦戶外公演

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Cloud Gate Dance Theatre celebrated its 30th anniversary with an outdoor performance in front of an estimated 35,000 people at the plaza of the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei on Saturday.

The company staged its signature work “Lunar Halo,” choreographed by Cloud Gate artistic director Cheng Tsung-lung (鄭宗龍) and set to music by Icelandic rock band Sigur Ros. First performed in 2019, the piece has toured 22 counties and cities across Taiwan, with 314 performances attracting 2.7 million attendees, per CNA.

Afternoon showers brought cooler temperatures as thousands of fans laid down picnic mats in anticipation of the evening show. An outdoor stage with a massive LED display created a striking sensory experience.

Cheng expressed gratitude to supporters who made the anniversary performance possible. “Honestly, presenting this piece to an outdoor audience is incredibly challenging. I'm grateful to the dancers, team, and volunteers for their support,” he said.

He added that he hoped the performance would remind audiences not to forget the beauty of their bodies.

“Lunar Halo” attracted wide attention upon its debut, but Saturday marked the first time it was presented outdoors. Cloud Gate overcame significant challenges to mount the production, including suspending a massive LED light and turning off all plaza lights except for emergency exits.

The show opened with dancers moving in unison like a giant centipede. Later, they shifted into tribal rhythms, stomping in sync, before inviting the audience to join them for a celebratory finale on a warm summer night.

Liu Yi-ru (劉怡汝), artistic director of the National Theater and Concert Hall, expressed gratitude for the good weather but also extended her best wishes to those still recovering from flooding and rebuilding their homes.