Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Cloud Gate 2 Dance Theatre will perform late choreographer Lo Man-fei's last work in its annual presentation with Lo's proud student Sheu Fang-yi playing a leading role, the troupe announced Wednesday in Taipei.
"Pursuing the Dream," the last work directed by well-known choreographer and dancer Lo Man-fei, who died of lung cancer March 24, will be one of three programs in Cloud Gate 2's Spring Gathering 2006.
Lo, one of the most important figures in Asian dance and a New York University graduate, began her professional career in 1974 and continued her training at different schools, including the Martha Graham School. In 1979, she joined Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and was appointed artistic director of Cloud Gate 2 in 1999.
Cloud Gate 2 was founded in 1999 to foster young choreographers, and to tour campuses and grass-root communities in Taiwan. The dancers range in age from 18 to 25.
"It means a lot to me to play the lead role in [Lo's] last work," said Sheu, who is the first Taiwanese principle dancer in the prestigious Martha Graham Dance Troupe and one of Lo's favorite students. She will play the role of Tu Li-niang, the love-struck female who is willing to live or die for love.
It also means a lot to Sheu to dance in her hometown. The dance presentation premieres April 29 in Yilan, where Sheu grew up and dreamt of being a professional dancer as a young girl.
Lo's last piece was also her first collaboration with her New York-based elder sister Sophie Lo. The elder Lo, a singer, will perform Chinese traditional Kunqu opera during the program.
Sheu's long-time boyfriend Bularayang Pagarlava, a Paiwan Aborigine and up-and-coming choreographer in Taiwan, also made his presence felt in the show by his work "Gloaming." The third program is "A Dignified Joke," choreographed by Cheng Tung-lung.
The Spring Gathering 2006 will be performed April 29-30 in Yilan, May 4-7 in Taipei, May 20 in Kaohsiung and May 27
in Taichung. Ticket information is available at www.artstickets.com.tw.