Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan’s ’13 Tongues’ at Byham; Clemson Tigers vs. Pitt Panthers at Acrisure (Sat., 11/16/24)

13 TONGUES (modern dance) by Cheng Tsung-lung. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, presented by Pittsburgh Dance Council. November 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre brings ’13 Tongues’ to the Byham Stage this month choreographed by CHENG Tsung-lung. (Photo: LIU Chen-hsiang)

1) What is the oldest art form? An argument can be made for dance. No tools or materials are needed, nor is language needed. Thus we can imagine ancient proto-humans moving their bodies creatively to tell stories, express their feelings, or just have primeval fun. And through the long years, those early performances grew into today’s modern dance, a very highly evolved version. Currently its chief practitioners include Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. Founded in 1973, Cloud Gate is named after the oldest known Chinese dance. The company’s dancers practice traditional methods of meditation and exercise. But they combine their skills with cutting-edge choreography and high-tech stagecraft, to produce dazzling performances that give new life to the raw, contagious energy that dance has always had. Cloud Gate now visits Pittsburgh on its latest world tour. The feature-length piece to be performed is 13 Tongues, created by Artistic Director Cheng Tsung-lung. The dance is inspired by Taipei’s famous Bangka/Wanhua district, which houses historic old Buddhist and folk-religion temples—and in recent times, was home to a street artist and storyteller calling himself “13 Tongues.” See Cloud Gate dance 13 Tongues at the Byham Theater. 7:30 p.m. 101 6th St., Cultural District. (M.V.)

Pitt’s senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew doesn’t mind driving in heavy traffic. (Photo: Ernest Borghetti, University of Pittsburgh)

2) What animal would win in a fight, a tiger or a panther? Well, we are about to find out as the Clemson Tigers take on the Pitt Panthers at Acrisure stadium today. The Pitt Panthers Football team is now 7-2 after losing last week against Virginia. Clemson has the same overall record. Hopefully the panthers will get back on track with a big win against Clemson today. Noon. 100 Art Rooney Ave., North Shore.

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