Categories
Butoh Contemporary dance 舞踏 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

Categories
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).

Categories
Butoh 舞踏

Tensui Hokusai Manga Butoh

On November 14/16, butoh meets pro-wrestling in an old factory in Sumida-ku. Butoh dancers Emiko Agatsuma and Tomoshi Shioya share a choregraphy with wrestlers. This session inscribes itself in the Hokusai butoh series in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, which already featured such butoh dancers as Wakaba and Kana Kitty.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVHRY9hswm3iUpiXQOvKcN7K_igS_pKYROBWSFfzKsqKz26A/viewform

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

Categories
Dance

Tryptich

The Belgian contemporary dance company Peeping Tom will perform Tryptich in Tokyo, at the Setagaya Public Theater from September 27 to 29. A sinister night spent by a group of eccentric men and women in a luxury ocean cabin is depicted with astonishing physical ability and a unique worldview. Don’t miss out on this most scandalous dance entertainment.
https://setagaya-pt.jp/stage/25024/

Categories
Dance English subtitles Theater

Dance Jurors’ dance

Newly appointed as artistic director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Toshiki Okada, the internationally acclaimed playwright and director, will present during the new Autumn Meteorite festival his latest work, a blend of theater and dance. Okada was inspired by Shoyuron A theory of property, a recent provocative text by philosopher Kiyokazu Washida. Subtitled in English, this work is a must see to get with ease into Japan latest theatre scene. From October 1st to October 5th.

https://autumnmeteorite.jp/en/2025/program/dancejurorsdance

https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2010/09/10/toshiki-okada-chroniques-arty-du-japon-contemporain_1409577_3246.html

Categories
Dance

Firebird by Noism2, ballet for kids

Niigata Noism young company, Noism 2, will hold a performance of Firebird specially for kids and their parents in Tokyo Metropolitan Theater (Ikebukuro) on September 14 and 15. It will be followed by a workshop, also for kids. Noism is one of the most famous contemporary dance companies in Japan, and has the experience to work with young and amateur inhabitants in Niigata, where they are based. The choregraphy is from Jo Kanamori, the founder of the company. The workshop will be held in Japanese, for sure, but overall this looks like a wonderful experience with a leading company. The tickets are very cheap (1500 JPY for adults, 500 JPY up to 17).

Noism 0/1 company will also perform the Bolero on September 15th, after it was performed in Saitama in July. Information here.

https://www.geigeki.jp/performance/concert303/c303-4/

About Japanese contemporary dance https://tokyojardin.org/a-short-history-of-contemporary-dance-in-japan/

Categories
Dance

Dance marathon express

Kaori Ito, coming from Strasbourg (Centre National Dramatique) will present her new work, inspired by Miyazawa Kenji novel the Milky Way, at the KAAT. Ride the express train of pop dance culture through the ages and enter the fantasy world woven by Miyazawa Kenji. Ema Yuasa, who presented Nosmosis project at the Goethe institute in January, is one of the dancers.

https://www.kaat.jp/d/dme

Categories
Dance Japanese tradition

Nihon Buyo, 66th edition

On February 21st and 22nd, the 66th edition of the Japanese Buyo Associations will take place in Asakusa public hall. A number of groups will present Japanese traditional dances. It is a unique chance to sample the diversity of this traditional arts, and established dancers as well as young performers will be on stage, in some cases proposing a renewed perspective. A must see to have a broad view, in one instance, of this centuries old tradition. This event is part of TominFes, the Capital Citizens Festival.
https://tomin-fes.com/list/nichibu01.html