Pine Smoke

Few can argue that art has an impact, but how many dance companies can boast that a street, a day and an asteroid all bear their name? Probably just one. Founded in 1973, Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre is Asia's flagship modern dance ensemble and founder Lin Hwai Min is a choreographic giant. Lin was drawn to dance as a child, having watched the 1948 film The Red Shoes 11 times. His parents had other ideas for Lin's future, but luckily he had talent to spare. Lin was a published writer at 14 and a bestselling author by 23. Today his work is a unique blend of song and story, much more about ideas than specific movements, but with a depth and poise that few other companies can match.

His dancers train in tai chi, qi gong and meditation, even taking weekly calligraphy lessons to heighten their sensitivity to movement. 'Calligraphy has become part of everyday life for our dancers,' says Lin. For new work Pine Smoke, this is particularly apt: the performance is the second of Lin's Cursive trilogy, which is based on calligraphers' purported five shades of ink. While Cursive I emphasised black on white, Pine Smoke deals with lighter, wispier shades of grey. The result is staggering fluidity and a haunting evocation of a traditional art come to life.

Address: 2 Xi Chang'an Jie, Xicheng district, Beijing

Admission 100-680RMB

Date Thu 23 Oct - Sat 25 Oct

Time 7.30-9.30pm