Schedule

Saturday, October 1, 2022
7:30 p.m. Performance

The world-renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan returns to Houston to present their acclaimed production 13 Tongues.

The work is inspired by Cloud Gate Artistic Director Cheng Tsung-lung's memories of the vibrantly diverse and bustling street scenes of Taipei, and his mother’s accounts of the legendary 1960s street artist and story-teller known as “Thirteen Tongues.”

Beginning and ending with the sound of a single hand bell, the music accompanying 13 Tongues ranges from Taiwanese folk songs to Taoist chant, to electronica. The stage is awash with projections of brilliant colors, shapes and images, as the dancers gather, interact, separate and re-gather in a thrilling representation of street life. As the religious heritage of ancient Bangka fuses with the secular space it is today, time appears to dissolve. The spirit realm and the human realm also coalesce as the audience is taken on an immersive journey— recalling the art of legendary street artist and storyteller “Thirteen Tongues” — through centuries of human endeavor, behavior, and belief.

“13 Tongues is a sensationally big, indulgent, and visually arresting expression of cultural memory.” — The Times

This performance will take place at the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center.

Performing Arts and Culture programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Syamal and Susmita Poddar. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, and The Brown Foundation Inc. Generous funding also provided by AARP, The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, and the Wortham Foundation. Additional support provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, United Airlines, and through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas.

Performing Arts and Culture Presenting Sponsors

Syamal and Susmita Poddar

Official Airline Sponsor

Program Sponsors

Presenting Partner

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.