Prospect recommends: The Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Sadler's Wells

The first contemporary dance theatre in the Chinese speaking world, Cloud Gate was founded in 1973 by the choreographer Lin Hwai-min. Inspired by seeing Powell and Pressburger’s film The Red Shoes at the age of five, Lin studied dance in Asia and America. He went on to develop a choreographic philosophy that combined traditional elements of Peking Opera, Chinese folk tales and epic poems, successfully marrying acrobatics, martial arts, ballet, temple dancing and contemporary dance. Nine Songs is a deceptively serene and spectacular extrapolation of the classical Chinese poems of Qu Yuan (343-278 BC), revolving around the cycles of nature. In contrast, Rice, made to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary, is an urgent celebration of the triumphant revival of organic rice farming. It is a piece that integrates ancient Hakka folksongs with western operatic arias. The use of a video backdrop depicting the life cycle of a rice paddy makes most theatre installations appear like home movies by comparison. Whether it is the molten calligraphy of Cursive II or the showers of golden rice in Songs of the Wanderers, a Cloud Gate performance is never less than awe inspiring. Prepare for enlightenment.

Sadler’s Wells, 21st to 27th February