Chinese identity, however, played a larger part than festival organizers had intended. Caught in the recent escalation in tensions between Taiwan and the mainland, a highly-anticipated performance by the Crossover Dance Company almost didn't take place. Crossover brought a dramatic twist to the well-trodden eastern dance ethos. White Snake Variations is part modern dance, part experimental drama. Reality intertwines with myth in a plot about four actors adapting an opera based on the Legend of the White Snake.
Performers switch too.
They move from monologue to Chinese opera, jazz and experimental dance, portraying life as a constant struggle. Dark Side of the Moon is a somber version of the classic Japanese tale about the nature of truth, Rashomon. Accompanied by pounding drums, synthesizers and the imposing sounds of noh theater, the result is an almost epic ballet. Crossover follows Cloud Gate's footsteps in constantly reinterpreting traditional themes. Dark Side displays a grace that carries strong echoes of taichi and operatic expression.