Fumi Yokobori Direction

Where does “dance” emerge from? What is its basis? When does it begin and end? For whom does it exist? What kind of forms does it show or does not show? In this direction I would like to focus on the three following points of view. Firstly, “dance” is expression that is generated in close relation to local contexts: climate, location, history, education, religion, family life, etc. Secondly, it goes back and forth between “necessity in daily life,” “what loosely connects people, roots and community” and “act of showing something at some kind of venue.” Thirdly, “dance” is expression with a structure that is open to endless processes, where it transforms again and again as daily life continues endlessly.

Fumi Yokobori
(Program Director, NPO DANCE BOX)
Born in Nara in 1978. She has been engaging in DANCE BOX since 1999. A trainee under the study program for upcoming artists of the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2006. Researched the situation of performing arts in six Asian countries and New York as a fellow of the Asian Cultural Council from 2008 to 2009. Based at Art Theater dB Kobe, she has been experimenting on programs that connect “dance,” “local communities” and “theater” and aiming to build network with a focus on Asia.

Jun Tsutsui + Dancing People in Shin-Nagata

About Dances in Shin-Nagata by Jun Tsutsui + Dancing People in Shin-Nagata (2013)

About Dances in Shin-Nagata

Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Large Studio

2.13 Thu 16:30
2.14 Fri 16:30

The concept of the project “About Dances in Shin-Nagata” is to “meet people who dance in Shin-Nagata.” It is a long-term project that was launched in April 2009. Based on studio visits and interviews and involving a number of events, it goes back and forth between research and practice. 2013 was the fifth year of the project, in which a director, choreographer and fine artist started to create new performances through meetings with “dancing people in Shin-Nagata.” Among these activities, this program features the attempt with Jun Tsutsui to present the process of “About Dances in Shin-Nagata” and various affairs related to “dance.”

Double bill with Aomori, Aomori by Sioned Huws

Dancers: Hanako Adachi, Masuko Aramaki, Tetsue Ueda, Masanwin Kitano, Yuriko Kubota, Hyemi Cho, Jun Tsutsui, Jyuri Nishioka, Won Park, Sachiko Fujita
Director: Jun Tsutsui
Interpreter: Taku Ito
Video Translation and Subtitles: Tomoyuki Arai

Stage Manager: Taku Suzuki
Cooperation: Sachiko Fujita Dance Class, Chingudul, Myanmar Restaurant Shwe Kan Kaw

Jun Tsutsui

Jun Tsutsui + Dancing People in Shin-Nagata

Jun Tsutsui is the leader of a performance collective “dracom” and director / playwright / actor. He received Kyoto Art Center Performing Arts Award in 2007. In addition to the activities of dracom, he has been directing for senior theatre companies and dancers, performing in works by Zan Yamashita, KIKIKIKIKIKI, Marebito-no-Kai and Ishinha, and involved since September 2013, the fifth year of the five-year project by DANCE BOX launched in 2009, in a program for artists and dancing people in Shin-Nagata to create pieces.

Sioned Huws

Aomori, Aomori (2011)

Aomori, Aomori

Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Large Studio

2.13 Thu 16:30
2.14 Fri 16:30

Aomori Project is a long-term work-in-progress project since 2008 in which the Welsh choreographer / dancer Sioned Huws and dancers and musicians of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on the main island of Japan, have been working together. Based on residence and creation in Aomori, they build space and landscape every year through workshops with people of various places and regions. Their new initiative in 2013 was research and co-creation in Aomori and two quake-hit cities: Rikuzentakata and Iwaki. The dance becomes a record and remembrance of their encounters with people and landscapes.

Double bill with About Dances in Shin-Nagata by Jun Tsutsui + Dancing People in Shin-Nagata

Concept and Choreography: Sioned Huws
Co-choreographers and performers: Yoshiya Ishikawa (Tsugaru-teodori dancer, Ishikawa School), Reina Kimura, Elena Jacinta, Agnese Lanza, Taz Burns
Samisen and Minyo: Hasegawa Sangen-kai (Yuji Hasegawa [Director, Hasegawa Sangen-kai], Yuso Hasegawa, Yushin Hasegawa), Kiyoko Goto (Tsugaru Minyo singer)

Co-organized by: Reminiscent Future Creation Residence Project 2013 (Reminiscent Future Creation Corporation), ARTizan (Aomori), Karada Tsukuru Asobu Project (Iwaki)
Supported by: The Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan in the fiscal 2013, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, British Council
Endorsed by: Aomori Contemporary Art Centre, Aomori Public University
Cooperated by: Field of Art Produce and Museum Studies, Joshibi University of Art and Design

Sioned Huws

Dancer / choreographer. Born in 1965 in Wales. Currently Based in London. Studied at Merce Cunningham Studio (New York) from 1988 to 1990, and her solo choreographic activities began; she has took part in a number of performances and residencies in and outside the U.K. The Aomori Project started in 2008 and has constantly been developing; after their participation in TPAM Showcase in 2011, it was presented at gDA (London) and Chapter (Cardiff, Wales), in 2012 at da:ns festival 2012 (Singapore), and in 2013 at E45 Napoli Fringe Festival and Fabbrica Europa (Florence).