Cheng Tsung-lung Leads Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s Hong Kong Debut with 'Moa Yue Liang,' Exploring Technology and the Body

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre was invited to perform 'Moa Yue Liang' at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong, marking Artistic Director Cheng Tsung-lung’s first tour to Hong Kong since taking leadership. Created in 2019, the dance piece explores how technology alters human perception—a theme still highly relevant today.

The performances on July 10 and 11 at the Grand Theatre of the West Kowloon Cultural District’s Xiqu Centre sold out within a week of ticket release. A third show was added on July 12, which also sold out within a week, making all three performances completely sold out. This achievement sets a new record for large-scale dance productions at the West Kowloon Cultural District, surpassing previous one-week sell-out benchmarks.

The inspiration for 'Moa Yue Liang' came from Cheng Tsung-lung’s personal experience of scrolling on his phone all night. As his senses became entirely absorbed by the screen, he began questioning whether, as technology increasingly infiltrates daily life, people are gradually losing their ability to perceive the world through their bodies. With this inquiry in mind, 'Moa Yue Liang' brings dancers back to a primal physical state, inviting theater audiences to awaken their inner sensations through the dancers’ intuitive expressions and rediscover their connection to the world.

Cheng stated that the most captivating aspect of theater is that it 'remains irreplaceable by any medium.' As knowledge becomes easier to access, the shared experience of being in the same space and feeling together becomes even more precious.

Cloud Gate’s connection with Hong Kong dates back to 1975, when founder Lin Hwai-min brought classics such as 'The White Snake,' 'Nine Songs,' 'Water Moon,' 'Bamboo Dream,' and 'Cursive' to Hong Kong audiences. The most recent visit before this was in 2019. Over decades, Cloud Gate has left a lasting impression on Hong Kong’s cultural scene. Beyond local audiences, some viewers traveled from Guangzhou, China, by high-speed rail specifically to attend the performances, demonstrating strong support and anticipation for Cloud Gate.

According to press materials released by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, notable attendees included Golden Horse Award-winning actress Sylvia Chang, veteran theater director Tang Shu-wing, theater creator Danny Yung, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Dance Company Yang Yuntao, choreographer黎海寧 (Lui Hai-ning), Artistic Director of City Contemporary Dance Company Sang Jijia, and Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Florence Yuan. (Edited by Li Hsi-chang)