Gate Among the Clouds: Hwai-Min Lin (林懷民) at TEDxTaipei 2013

Translated into English by Raquel Deng • Reviewed by Michelle Lo

A writer-turned choreographer, Lin Hwai-min often draws inspiration from Asian cultures and aesthetics to create works with contemporary resonance. He founded Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan in 1973 and Cloud Gate 2 in 1999, and is currently the artistic director of both companies.

Honoring him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, the critics of the International Movimentos Dance Prize in Germany said Lin is"a foremost innovator of dance" and that he "ranks amongst artists of the century such as William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Birgit Cullberg ...."

In July 2013, he received the prestigious Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement. The Festival states that Lin is, "one of the most dynamic and innovative choreographers today ... his choreographic brilliance continues to push boundaries and redefine the art form". Previous awardees include Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch and William Forsythe. Lin is the first recipient based in Asia. He also served as the author for the 2013 International Dance Day Message.

Lin Hwai-min has received honorary doctorates from six universities in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award, the Distinguished Artist Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), and the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Ministry of Culture. Among all the honors Lin has received, the Time Magazine named him in 2005 as one of "Asia's Heroes".


1973年，林懷民以中國最古老的舞名「雲門」，作為團名，是華語世界第一個當代舞團。雲門舞作多以現代的觀點，詮釋傳統。「九歌」、「紅樓夢」、「行草三部曲」等作品，是台灣社會三代人的共同記憶。

雲門在國際備受讚譽。紐約、倫敦、柏林、莫斯科、東京、雪梨都是舞團例行公演的城市。倫敦泰晤士報說，雲門是「亞洲第一當代舞團」。

林懷民獲獎無數，包括德國舞動藝術節頒贈的「終身成就獎」，美國舞蹈節「終身成就獎」，里昂舞蹈節的「最佳編導」，紐約洛克‧菲勒三世獎，法國文化部的騎士文藝勳章，時代雜誌的「亞洲英雄人物」。


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