Description

The leading figures of contemporary dancers in Japan - Yoko Ando, Megumi Nakamura and Hana Sakai - have studied classical and modern ballet fundamentally and inherited innovative methods of physical expression from the world's best choreographers and directors.

Through GENEALOGY OF DANCE, which was created at Dance Base Yokohama in 2020-21 and premiered at Aichi Arts Theatre, the origin of choreography has been "inherited" and "reconstructed" repeatedly up to the present day, based on the original works of the master choreographers who have influenced their respective dance careers. The presentation of GENEALOGY OF DANCE will unravel the history of how choreographic origins have been "inherited" and "reconstructed" over and over again until the present day through six showcases.

Michael Fokine, a Russian choreographer and dancer, who revolutionised the classical ballet style that Marius Petipa led to perfection; Jiří Kylián, a master choreographer, who fused modern dance and ballet and shared the rise of contemporary dance movement with Pina Bausch; William Forsythe, who departed from ballet's stylistic beauty and established a new body theory; and playwright Toshiki Okada, who unleashed a body permeated by ballet to its marrow. Witness an act of dance history that is constantly being renewed, transcending time, region and ethnicity.

Performances - 'Origins' and 'inheritance/reconstruction' of choreography

The Dying Swan, based on Fokin's original, has been danced by ballet dancers around the world. A collaboration with theatre writer Toshiki Okada that dares to look at the cause of the swan's death and also attempts to deconstruct the ballet's style.

The Dying Swan
Original by Mikhail Fokin, revised by Hana Sakai.
Performed by: Hana Sakai
Cello: Udai Shike
Music: 'The Swan' from Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals
*1907 or 1905, first performed in Russia

The Dying Swan: The Truth of Its Death
Direction and choreography: Toshiki Okada
Performed by: Hana Sakai
Arrangement, cello: Udai Shike
Music: Arranged from 'The Swan' from Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals

The Dying Swan: The Truth of Its Death (『瀕死の白鳥　その死の真相』) ©︎Taisuke Tsurui, 2022 ［Venue｜The Museum of Art, Kochi - Museum Hall］

Mikhail Fokin / born 1880, St Petersburg, Russia. Studied at the Imperial Dance School and joined the Marinsky Theatre in 1898, where he emerged as a soloist. Died in New York in 1942.

Hana Sakai / Studied classical ballet under Toshiaki Hatasa. She has received numerous awards, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2017. Performed in the Japanese-British-Australian international co-production ZERO POINT (Kochi, 2016).

Toshiki Okada / Theatre writer, novelist and director of chelfitsch. Toshiki Okada is a playwright, novelist and chelfitsch director. He has attracted attention both in Japan and internationally for his unique methodology of using 'imagination' in relation to language and the body, and for his critical eye on contemporary society.

Udai Shika / Cellist active in a variety of genres, including rock, pop, jazz, classical and improvised music. One of the top string arrangers in the Japanese commercial music scene. In recent years, he has played and arranged strings for Bank Band, Mr Children, ONE OK ROCK and many other rock bands. http://udai66.com/

Performance of a solo scene from BLACKBIRD, choreographed for Nakamura by Kylián. Nakamura's new solo "BLACK ROOM", in which he listened carefully to the unspoken voice.

Solo from BLACKBIRD
Choreography: Jiří Kylián
Performed by: Nakamura Benei
Music: Traditional Georgian music
*Premiered 2001, Japan, Holland

BLACK ROOM
Choreography and Performer: Megumi Nakamura
Music: Dirk Haubrich
Costume: Shinya Kushino

『BLACKBIRD』©︎Tsurui Taisuke, 2022［Venue｜The Mueum of Art, Kochi - Museum Hall］

Megumi Nakamura / Nakamura moved her base to Europe after winning a prize at the Prix de Lausanne. She was a member of the Netherlands Dance Theatre led by Kilian, where she was involved in the creation of world-leading choreographers. After leaving the company, she worked as a coach for Kylian's works, taught ballet companies and schools around the world, and worked as a choreographer. 2018: awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon, etc.

Jiří Kylián / Born in Prague, Czech Republic in 1947. Studied at the Prague Conservatory and the Royal Ballet School in the UK, and became artistic director and choreographer of the Netherlands Dance Theatre in 1977. Since then, he has created many works, including The Purified Night and Nuage, which he has continued to dance since his retirement in 1999.

Masaya Kushino / Diploma in Fashion Design Master Course at Istituto Marangoni, Milan. She has been presenting her work on the theme of final design using cutting-edge technology and traditional techniques, as well as shoes and artwork incorporating science and technology, to the world.

Duo by Yoko Ando and Yasutake Shimachi, who are well versed in Forsythe's improvisation methods. The two rising stars and Ando created a new trio, MOVING SHADOW, based on Kenji Miyazawa's Haru to Shura.

Duo from Study #3
Choreography: William Forsythe
Performed by: Yoko Ando, Yasutake Shimaji
Music: Tom Willems
*Premiered 2012, Italy

MOVING SHADOW
Choreography/Dance: Yoko Ando
Cast: Nozomi Kinouchi, Yasuyu Yamaguchi
Music: Naoto Oka

『Study # 3』©︎Tsurui Taisuke, 2022［Venue｜The Museum of Art, Kochi - Museum Hall］

Yoko Ando / Studied dance under Kuniko Kisanuki. Ando became the first Asian member to join the Frankfurt Ballet in 2001. After the disbandment of the company, she joined the Forsythe Company, where she has remained active as a core dancer. She also directs and performs her own work, and is involved in creating and teaching dance using media technology.

William Forsythe / Born 1949 in New York, Forsythe became artistic director of the Frankfurt Ballet in 1984, founded The Forsythe Company in 2005 (disbanded in 2015), and his works are danced by major companies worldwide. His works are danced by major companies around the world, and he continues to present shocking works that change the concept of ballet.

　

Yasutake Shimaji / Shimaji was a member of The Forsythe Company from 2006-2015, and formed a dance unit Altneu with Hana Sakai afterwards. As a member of the Shiseido Seventh Tsubakikai, he exhibited installation works in addition to performances. In recent years, he has co-composed and performed "ARIKA" with Tamaki ROY at the Aichi Arts Theatre production, and created "Oto no e" as the first Japanese artist to be selected for the residency programme "Fabric Chaillot" at the Theatre National de Chaillot, France.

Nono Kinouchi / Resident dancer at DaBY, studied classical ballet at the Mayumi Kinouchi Ballet Studio from the age of three. Winner of many first prizes at ballet competitions in Japan, she studied at the Washington Ballet School and the Berlin State Ballet School from 2015. After returning to Japan, she moved to Japan and since 2019 has performed in works by Yoko Ando, Yasuyuki Endo, Akira Shirai, Shinji Nakamura and others, as well as in the POLA Apex brand movie as a solo performer. In recent years, he has been actively engaged in choreography, presenting solo works 'from before' (2021) and 'sarabande' (2022).

Taisuke Yamaguchi / Resident dancer at DaBY, Yamaguchi began dancing at the age of five and studied HIPHOP and breaking at the studio SRN GOLDRUSH. Later, he joined the dance club of Nishimatsugakusa University High School and studied POP, and is currently enrolled in the dance course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. He trains younger students as a coach in the dance club of Nishimatsugakusa University Senior High School.