Cultural Entrepreneurship in Adverse Times: Lin Hwai-min, Founder of Taiwan Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

Abstract

This study explores the founding and development process of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, the first professional modern dance company in Taiwan, established in 1973 by Lin Hwai-min(1947. 02. 19.~ ). This research has two main focuses. First, it analyzes the lasting imprint of the historical and social context of Taiwan in the 1970s on the development of the dance company. Second, it examines the role played by Lin Hwai-min as a cultural entrepreneur in the formation of Cloud Gate amidst the challenges of the era. Based on existing literature and prior research, this study analyzes how Lin Hwai-min integrated Taiwan's unique historical experiences and collective emotions with modern dance to establish the unique aesthetic identity of the dance company. Applying the theory of organizational imprinting and the concept of cultural entrepreneurship, the research deeply investigates how the socio-political climate of Taiwan in the 1970s influenced the establishment and early growth of Cloud Gate. It examines the impact of Taiwan's complex socio-political environment and the changes of that period on the organizational imprint, and highlights the significance of Lin Hwai-min's entrepreneurial approach in forming the aesthetic identity of Cloud Gate. The findings of this study provide sophisticated insights into understanding the identity formation of cultural and artistic organizations within a broader socio-historical context and emphasize the interaction between external environments and entrepreneurial spirit in shaping cultural institutions.