The sister company of internationally celebrated Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Cloud Gate 2 performs in the UK for the first time with a triple bill in the main house from Monday 21 – Wednesday 23 November. The company presents the country’s most talented emerging dancers and choreographers.

Wicked Fish choreographed by Huang Yi, sees the dancers mimic a shoal of fish, as puzzle-like choreography competes with a complex score from Iannis Xenakis under a stream of light. The second two pieces are choreographed by Cheng Tsung-lung, the Artistic Director of the Company. The first piece The Wall examines ideas of protection and segregation, highlighting the physical and mental barriers built around us. The work is performed to dramatic heavy beats of Michael Gordon’s music with a contrast of light and shadow. The third piece, Beckoning focuses on how people can shift identities almost instantaneously, and creates a mysterious zigzag of body language with movements distilled subtly from Taiwanese street-dancing rituals, Ba Jia Jiang, that gives this abstract work a playful and poetic quality.

Cloud Gate 2 was formed in 1999 by Lin Hwai-min, the founder and Artistic Director of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, and choreographer and former Cloud Gate Dancer, Lo Man-Fei as its founding artistic director. Unlike most junior companies, Cloud Gate 2 does not prepare dancers to join Cloud Gate, nor does it perform any of Lin Hwai-min’s choreography. It showcases talented young dancers in original works by innovative young choreographers. The company’s annual season, Spring Riot, is one of the most anticipated arts events in Taiwan.

This production forms part of the Out of Asia 2 season at Sadler’s Wells. Building on the successes of its first Out of Asia season in 2011, this is another rare opportunity to experience outstanding dance from Asia’s vibrant and rapidly developing performing arts world, which is bringing new perspectives and energy to stages across the globe. This autumn Sadler’s Wells shares with London a range of works by five dance companies from China and Taiwan, as well as four independent choreographers from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and India, in SoftMachine a special collaboration with Choy Ka Fai from Singapore.

Cheng Tsung-Lung, Artistic Director and Choreographer for Cloud Gate 2 says:

“We feel very honoured and excited about performing at Sadler’s Wells. London, to us, seems close and familiar, as if we could arrive at it simply by sliding open our mobiles. In fact, this is our first time in London, 17 years after Cloud Gate 2 was founded in 1999. Recently, Cloud Gate 2 has toured internationally to New York, Germany, Beijing, and Shanghai, among others. We hope our dances can break down cultural barriers and reach more audiences around the world.”