Category: Contemporary dance

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Butoh Contemporary dance Japanese tradition

Ballet x butoh x kabuki : A dance remembered in Tohno

From December 26 to December 28, the contemporary dance company of K-Ballet, Opto, associated with the famous butoh dancer, Akaji Maro and the French-Japanese kabuki wonderboy Onoe will premiere A dance remember in Tohno in Brillia hall (Ikebukuro). Revolving around a mythical young kamikaze and its pains, performed by the company who enchanted us with their Petit collection in 2022, and 2 great individuals, this is a show not to be missed – as of Dec.18, there were still places available.
For more information there is a great article in Japan Times here

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Contemporary dance

Nowhere

MowiMowi, a young contemporary dance company, will perform in Setagaya Public Theatre on December 19-21. Supported by the Next Generation program of Theatre Tram, their energetic dance, anchored in Japan latest generation, will intrigue you. Based on the concept of “liminal space,” which has spread from internet culture, the work depicts the connection between people and ambiguous places that are “neither here nor there.” Moto Takahashi the founder and choregrapher of the company, will also dance at Yokohama Dance Collection (on December 6 and 7).

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Contemporary dance

North Korea Dance by Eun-Me Ahn

On December 8th, YPAM showcases North Korea Dance, a work from 2018, at the time Eun-Me Ahn, the famous South Korean choregrapher, became an associated artiste of the Théâtre de la Ville de Paris. She created her choregraphy considering the customs of neighbouring North Korea. While moves from public ceremonies, or famous soldier footsteps are part of the show, it is a bridge between the two countries, but also a remembrance of potentially phasing out South Korean traditions – indeed, the isolation of Pyeongyang also accounts for holding to the past. It will be a premiere in Japan, and a very exciting show from YPAM.
(Not to miss either, from December 5 to 7, the auto-choreo-biographical Jerome Bel , interpreted by Takao Kawaguchi).

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Butoh Contemporary dance

Butoh at Kochuten – Multilayered body animal

Dairakudakan presents a one-man butoh performance by Konan AMOKU / Conan Amok, Multilayered body animal, from December 11 to December 14th, in Kichijoji, Tokyo. Kochuten, the paradise in a jar, the 50-seats venue of the oldest existing butoh company (est.1972), has re-started their regular spectacles / producings. After Jongye YANG Rite of spring all female Dairakudakan members sold-out performances in November, and before Shinshoku (March 2-8), it is a perfect time to taste Butoh pieces blessed by Akaji MARO, who is acting as artistic director for this piece. For more information on Dairakudakan / Kochuten programs, and on Butoh in 2025 and beyond.

Other recommended performing arts spectacles until end of the year : From October to December
And for the first quarter 2026

Categories
Contemporary dance Dance

Dance Bridge 2025 vol.2

Session House Kagurazaka will stage the second volume of Dance Bridge 2025, focusing on laugther, on Dec. 6 and 7. In a time of growing social uncertainty, this program presents four dance works that explore empathy and tolerance born through laughter. Going beyond the boundaries of contemporary dance, the artists will take on the challenge of illuminating human nature through humor.
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“Tokyo Parade”, Choreography & Performance: Mizuo Kasai, Chieko Ito
“Sister”, Chor.: Takahiro Mochizuki Perf,: Takahiro Mochizuki, Haruka Takeuchi
“Iconic”, Choreography & Performance: Yu Okamoto, Wataru Kitao
“1mm of Policy”, Chor.: Sae Onishi, Perf.: Sae Onishi, Remi Murai, Haruka Taba
Take the chance to have a taste of 4 different styles / expressions and laugh along the performances.
For information and registering : info@session-house.net
Website : https://session-house.net/

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Butoh Circus Contemporary dance

Floating squid, Butoh, dance and juggling

Wakaba Coffee presents a triple staged show on December 26 and 27, featuring Wakaba Coffee butoh pair, obviously, a poetic juggling performance by Yosuke Meguro – who was invited to present his Life Work in Setagaya Public Theater earlier this year -, and contemporary dance by Manami and Mamiko Hosokawa. A triple bill followed by a coffee, for an exclusive event. Wakaba’s butoh pieces are always intriguing, often entertaining, and this will be a great combination, no doubt. In Nakano.
More info on butoh in Tokyo in 2025.

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Circus Contemporary dance English English subtitles Theater

YPAM 25 theatre highlights

On October 1st, YPAM program was released, with its 3 main branches, YPAM Fringe, YPAM Direction and Yokohama Dance Collection. Some plays and shows stand out, among the many offerings – some related to witches and ghosts, and all the below plays are available with English surtitles, accessible to non Japanese speakers. Below are 8 interesting theater plays with English surtitles or in English, and one Circus performance.

Full model change, a dark comedy exploring life in a competitive society where happiness is a measurable commodity, everyone being forced to chase their own “happiness score.”, Nov.28-30, Theater, English sub.
The game, for chess lovers and haters – At Cafe Pawn, regular customers are always playing chess.One day, a married couple comes in.After her husband breaks up with her, the wife becomes addicted to chess, Dec. 3-7, Theater, English sub.
Dadda, Inspired by Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s “The Spider’s Thread,” this work delves into the essence of circus as an art of limits: gravity, centrifugal force, precarious balance, and circular motion. Circus, Dec. 5-7
Radiant / Three thousand, based on Dylan Thomas “And Death Shall Have No Dominion” and Nankichi Niimi “Hikaru”, this theatrical work reflects on life and death, and the long, radiant, and vanishing flow of time that leads to the present, Dec 6-21, English/Japanese and Engl.subtitles
Mr. Day Dreamer Hamlet Machine, based on Heiner Mueller incredible work, Dec.7-9, Japanese with English sub.
The Ego and His Loss, inspired by a real event, tells the tragedy which develops between an immigrant Vietnamese woman and a man who was a victim of the frozen era, not having found a permanent job when the bubble burst. By a company based in Osaka. Dec.8-9, Japanese with English surtitles.
No one’s rite based on Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which captures the disturbing frenzy and irrational outcomes of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, this play takes place in the meeting room of a video production company. Four “female” employees engage in seemingly cheerful yet deeply insular conversations, Dec 11-14, Japanese, English sub.
The Japanese rite of meeting a ghost, will conduct a traditional Japanese ritual of spirit invocation. “Genzo” is a theatrical series dedicated to exploring expressions of fear on stage. This production will be performed in English, Dec 12-14
Zazi-Zoo Contemporary Counterfeit Theater, a new performance by the energetic Zazi.Zoo energetic and passionate theatre collective from Tokyo, an experience in an intimate transformed garage, in Yokohama, with English surtitles.
Girls Double Bill “Which Witch” & “MAMA”, from a theater series exploring the theme of female metamorphosis. ‘MAMA’ depicts the issues and myths surrounding modern mother-daughter relationships using the form of Noh theater. ‘Which Witch’ dramatizes the metamorphosis of women in medieval European witch hunts and modern Japanese capitalist society in a picnic-style. Dec 13-14, in Japanese only.

Dance pieces to be screened later ! And do not forget to look for free performances, on-the-spot shows and various installations.

Other spectacles in the last quarter of 2025 : Tokyo stages from October to December

Categories
Contemporary dance

Robot, l’amour éternel

From December 5 to 7, Kaori Ito, dancer, choregrapher, and director of Strasbourg CND, will present Robot, l’amour éternel, the last work of her intimate trilogy at New National Theater Tokyo. This will be the second time this year she presents some work in Japan, after the Dance Marathon Express performed in KAAT back in July. She will this time share a solo and more intimate work, fit for NNTT Pit.
More info on Kaori Ito : in Le Monde, on her website

Categories
Contemporary dance Dance

Dance Bridge 2025 – The Sky is Connected

On September 27 and 28, Session House will host an international contemporary dance project Dance Bridge 2025 – The Sky is Connected, in Kagurazaka, Tokyo.
#When we look up at the sky, we see no borders and clouds drifting freely. Yet beneath this sky, divisions, conflicts, and human suffering continue to exist.#
Dance Bridge 2025 seeks to explore tolerance and coexistence in contemporary society by learning about diverse cultural backgrounds and sharing a wide range of emotions and values through dance.
The program includes presentations of dance works from Korea, Japan, and the United States—each representing different cultural backgrounds, some focusing on the theme of “laughter.” Dancers nurtured in different cultural environments will use contemporary dance as a common language to place human emotions at the core of their work, proposing the diversity and inclusivity of dance through their performances.

As part of cultural exchange with Korea, two all-female Japanese dance companies will perform pieces inspired by the Bolero , each expressing distinct perspectives on the female body.
Mademoiselle Cinema, re-working Ito’s Her chair choregraphy, portrays the everyday life of working women and bridges to the future, while Magnum☆Madame explores the evolving physicality of women with age, highlighting their unique traits. Yoo Hosik from Korea will bring his signature work Forest to Japan. This collaboration will explore differences and commonalities in female expression between the two countries and reflect on coexistence in modern society. Reservations shall be possible in English

Also check recommended dance and theater performances in September and October-December