Gala Performance and Talk Session

Selenographica, Monochrome Circus, Morikawa-san, and j.a.m. dance theatre each performed a piece in a Gala performance at Kyoto Art Center, in order to kick off the Bridge Dance Project workshops.

The four pieces were all duets between a male and female dancer. Oddly, all of the pieces seemed to crescendo (or have a suspenseful/gasp sort of moment) when the two performers confronted each other directly in an embrace or stood closely and face-to-face. All of the pieces were interesting explorations of movement and sound, but the piece that grabbed the audience the most was Morikawa's "A room with chairs." The two performers had such connected energy that it was amazing. Their relationship felt very alive and real and interesting. During the talk session, Morikawa-san said that he created the piece through exploring interesting movement and interest in the body, rather than exploring a certain concept. Yet, through tight movement and relationship between the two performers, Morikawa-san's piece was the most conceptually coherent and striking, it seemed. Just not in a way that i can express in words at the moment.

It was a good feeling to see these four choreographers and be impressed by each one of them, because the last three (Morikawa, j.a.m., and Monochrome Circus) seem to be holding workshops and performances quite regulary in Kyoto and the Kansai area.