In the summer vacation toward the fourth year of university, I participated in the Cloud Gate training for the first class of seed dancers. I was chosen to continue with intensive training during the summer. Many of the teachers were dancers in Cloud Gate Dance Theatre. They knew whether we would be good fits. I was asked to join Cloud Gate Dance Theatre. I had a lot of exposure to Cloud Gate and I really enjoyed it. I was willing to give it a shot, so I signed up.

I like Pine Smoke and Songs of the Wanderers. Before I joined Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, I didn't know much about Tai Chi Tao Yin or martial art basics. I had to quickly learn about the dances and immerse myself in the Cloud Gate atmosphere. Songs of the Wanderers helped me to enhance my body expressions and spirituality. The background music is a folk song from Georgia. It is one of the few Cloud Gate performances with clear melodies and rhythms. Most of the music we choose is abstract. Pine Smoke combines martial art in the strength of movements. In addition to the vigor, breathing is also important. The body is both still and in motion. It was a great challenge to me.

Cloud Gate has its unique style. Whilst I had training since childhood and I learned a lot about ballet and modern dance, I never had training in Tai Chi Tao Yin or martial art. I only learned about it in my third year of university. The real learning of Tai Chi Tao Yin was with Cloud Gate. It was breathing exercise and pushing the joints to the limit. Translating it into Cloud Gate dance was the most difficult part for me. I needed to trust even the most tedious processing. This is the hurdle to be overcome only with patience, practice and persistence.

I have a lot of stress. Mr. Lin Hwai-min's works are narrative. The witch in Nine Songs has some wild movements. It was quite an experience for me. I had to enter a fascinating situation in a rational and controllable manner. After spinning like crazy, I had to make sure I was standing at the front of the stage when raising my head again. It was very stressful. It might look easy, but my muscles were trembling. Anything contrived will be spotted by the audience. Also, the intensive training was very demanding. All that I could do was to be prepared and perform.

The biggest difference is the distance from the audience. It feels like you are in a black box when performing in a theatre. Lots of light on us. We are the attention of all the eyeballs. I feel distant from the audience. If I am really into the role, I do not sense very much how the audience responds or feels. However, it is different outdoors. Any like or dislike from the audience can be completely sensed. Also, lighting is different. It is natural light outside so we can see the audience from the stage.

The training is demanding partly because of its variety. The dance Water Moon requires a different way of handling muscles and gravity when it comes to squatting down, close to the ground. However, the satisfaction I felt inside was all worth it. I knew that I have raised the bar. In the repeated practice and performances, I realized that continued pursuit of progress was the best motivation. Cloud Gate training influences me the most with the power of quietness. Mr. Lin Hwai-min insists this. It has changed me a lot for my dance and life philosophy. I am willing to go on like this.

They do list this as one of the requirements! I feel "thirst for life" is fundamental to many things. Being forced to do something will never last. Without aspiration, it is not possible to steer through a difficult journey. Determination, passion, dedication and diligence will go a long way.

I feel friendly in terms of my interaction with the audience. Their response is direct, specially with outdoor performances. However, there is no meaningful support for art in Taiwan as overseas. How can dance groups fund themselves? This decides how much dancers are being paid. I am lucky to be with Cloud Gate, so my experience has been positive. But there are many small troupes in Taiwan and their dancers need to do side jobs for a living. As far as I am concerned, I enjoy performing for the audience.

I think it is a bit like a lesson in life. The daily practice in Cloud Gate is like cultivating serenity at heart. I have learned to cope with difficulties a lot better. Now I can share my experience with others. I feel that dance is not far from others. It in fact brings people together. Dance is not just a tool for moneymaking.

Mr. Lin Hwai-min influenced me a lot. The biggest influence that Cloud Gate has on me is that it opened my eyes. We spend six months per year touring overseas and we see many people and cultures. Your perspectives are different if you have a broad horizon. You will be willing to take a long view for your life. Mr. Lin Hwai-min has influenced us so much. I became better tempered and more willing to make efforts. Now that Mr. Lin Hwai-min is retiring, I want to pass on the heritage. His influence on us is more than about dancing. We know that we should look beyond ourselves professionally and personally.