Ishikko Kensan
Popping, Contact Improvisation, and Dance Theater
10th TheaterX International Dance + Theater Festival 2012, Tokyo, Japan
Date: Sat. June 23, 2012Time: 2:30 pm
Location: TheaterX: 2-10-14 Ryogoku, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
- JR Sobu Line: Ryogoku Station
Map and Direction
"Ishikko Kensan" Bilingual Blog Site (English/Japanese)
"Ishikko Kensan" by Kayoko Nakajima + Yukari Kakiuchi, Masaru Munekata
Cast : Yukari Kakiuchi (Tokyo), Kayoko Nakajima (NYC), Carly Czach (NYC), Shohei Nomoto(Ibaragi), Ken Nozawa (Gunma)
Scene Design: Masaru Munekata (Tokyo), Shugo Tsuchida (Ibaragi)
Video, Sound, Music:Kazuya Ninomiya (Tokyo)
Other Performances:
"Gingakozui" by Kitenretsu Gekkodan
"Ve~Hoshizora KazeKaze Abramushi~" by Isumi + Hideo Ikegami
"Catch up the rhythm!" by Dance Monster
Kayoko Nakajima, Yukari Kakiuchi, and Masaru Munekata, create the unique world of Kenji Miyazawa, the beloved Japanese writer, artist, and philosopher. This piece was performed at CRS on Saturday, May 12, 2012 in New York, City.
"Ishikko Kensan" (Kenji's childhood nickname relating to his passion for rock collecting), is a international collaboration between Tokyo and New York City, utilizing modern technologies (Skype, email, youtube, and blogging to to allow the artists to work together at a distance. For the actual performance, Kakiuchi will travel from Tokyo to NYC to perform alongside Nakajima and Czach. "Ishikko Kensan" reflects on Miyazawa's life and work through dance: Contact Improvisation by Kayoko Nakajima and Carly Czach and Popping by Yukari Kakiuchi. Contact Improvisation is chosen to communicate Kenji's strong interest in astronomy and philosophy of the universe. Popping expresses his brain activity as a person with synesthesia. Projection and music is by Naoya Ninomiya, set design and creation is by Shugo Tsuchida, directed by Masaru Munekata.
There was a major disaster in Japan on March, 11 last year, an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant meltdown. This unfortunate event happened in the Tohoku region where Kenji worked tirelessly all his life to help people who suffered from drought. Kenji himself lived through a large earthquake and tsunami disaster in 1933. The whole world mourns and fears in the aftermath of last year's accident. Still, the nuclear leakage problem has not been solved. What would Kenji think if he were alive today? This has been in our thoughts as we create this piece. What we should do now for our future?
For more information about the "Ishikko Kensan" performance in Japan,
please visit:http://www.theaterx.jp/12/120601-120624p.php or email: [email protected]
Blog: http://ishikkokensan.wordpress.com/
Location: TheaterX: 2-10-14 Ryogoku, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
- JR Sobu Line: Ryogoku Station
Map and Direction
"Ishikko Kensan" Bilingual Blog Site (English/Japanese)
"Ishikko Kensan" by Kayoko Nakajima + Yukari Kakiuchi, Masaru Munekata
Cast : Yukari Kakiuchi (Tokyo), Kayoko Nakajima (NYC), Carly Czach (NYC), Shohei Nomoto(Ibaragi), Ken Nozawa (Gunma)
Scene Design: Masaru Munekata (Tokyo), Shugo Tsuchida (Ibaragi)
Video, Sound, Music:Kazuya Ninomiya (Tokyo)
Other Performances:
"Gingakozui" by Kitenretsu Gekkodan
"Ve~Hoshizora KazeKaze Abramushi~" by Isumi + Hideo Ikegami
"Catch up the rhythm!" by Dance Monster
Kayoko Nakajima, Yukari Kakiuchi, and Masaru Munekata, create the unique world of Kenji Miyazawa, the beloved Japanese writer, artist, and philosopher. This piece was performed at CRS on Saturday, May 12, 2012 in New York, City.
"Ishikko Kensan" (Kenji's childhood nickname relating to his passion for rock collecting), is a international collaboration between Tokyo and New York City, utilizing modern technologies (Skype, email, youtube, and blogging to to allow the artists to work together at a distance. For the actual performance, Kakiuchi will travel from Tokyo to NYC to perform alongside Nakajima and Czach. "Ishikko Kensan" reflects on Miyazawa's life and work through dance: Contact Improvisation by Kayoko Nakajima and Carly Czach and Popping by Yukari Kakiuchi. Contact Improvisation is chosen to communicate Kenji's strong interest in astronomy and philosophy of the universe. Popping expresses his brain activity as a person with synesthesia. Projection and music is by Naoya Ninomiya, set design and creation is by Shugo Tsuchida, directed by Masaru Munekata.
There was a major disaster in Japan on March, 11 last year, an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant meltdown. This unfortunate event happened in the Tohoku region where Kenji worked tirelessly all his life to help people who suffered from drought. Kenji himself lived through a large earthquake and tsunami disaster in 1933. The whole world mourns and fears in the aftermath of last year's accident. Still, the nuclear leakage problem has not been solved. What would Kenji think if he were alive today? This has been in our thoughts as we create this piece. What we should do now for our future?
For more information about the "Ishikko Kensan" performance in Japan,
please visit:http://www.theaterx.jp/12/120601-120624p.php or email: [email protected]
Blog: http://ishikkokensan.wordpress.com/
Conversations with Kenji Miyazawa
CRS (Center for Remembering & Sharing) will present a short program of works by CRS Contact Improv instructor Kayoko Nakajima and other artists, introducing the beloved Japanese writer, artist, and philosopher Kenji Miyazawa to western audiences. The program will take place at CRS on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available online and at CRS.
This program is offered as an unofficial prelude for New York audiences to this summer's tenth TheaterX International Performing Art Festival 2012 in Tokyo, which this year is dedicated to works inspired by Kenji Miyazawa and will include the piece created by Nakajima and her collaborators.
Poet/artist Teo Yamamoto and musician/artist Hacci Morihata will read/perform poems and stories by Miyazawa as well as several poems by Yamamoto, whose work at times strongly parallels Miyazawa's with regard to his love of animals and exploration of animism and the interconnectedness of all things. "Ishikko Kensan" (Kenji's childhood nickname relating to his passion for rock collecting), is a international collaboration between Tokyo and New York City, utilizing modern technologies (Skype, email, youtube, and blogging to to allow the artists to work together at a distance). For the actual performance, Kakiuchi will travel from Tokyo to NYC to perform alongside Nakajima and Czach. "Ishikko Kensan" reflects on Miyazawa's life and work through dance: Contact Improvisation by Kayoko Nakajima and Carly Czach and Popping by Yukari Kakiuchi. Contact Improvisation is chosen to communicate Kenji's strong interest in astronomy and philosophy of the universe. Popping expresses his brain activity as a person with synesthesia. Projection and music is by Naoya Ninomiya, set design and creation is by Shugo Tsuchida, directed by Masaru Munekata.
For more information about the performance in Japan, visit:
http://www.theaterx.jp/
Blog (with videos documenting the rehearsal/development process):
http://ishikkokensan.wordpress.com/
About Kenji Miyazawa
Kenji Miyazawa has transcended the generations to become one of Japan's most read and best loved authors. Born over a hundred years ago in 1896 in Iwate Prefecture, he was only 37 at the time of his death. Kenji's literary works were mostly published posthumously, after which the richness and depth of his art finally gained wide recognition. Born into the family of a well-to-do pawnbroker, he was greatly disturbed by the thought that his family's affluent lifestyle was supported by squeezing what little extra the poor in the area managed to put aside. This and his strong Buddhist faith drove Kenji to spend most of his brief life in a passionate struggle to improve the lot of the poor farmers there. In the midst of his endeavors Kenji also found time to avidly absorb the latest scientific, philosophic, and artistic developments that were emanating from Europe at the time (1910-1920) and to keenly observe and record many vivid impressions of the world around him.
Kenji's stories are set against the whole of the universe----a world replete with people, animals, plants, the wind, clouds, light, the stars and the sun. All hold discourse together. All are in empathy with one another. This free association between the elements and living things that make up our world is one of the distinguishing features that predominates Kenji's works. The interaction he portrays is never nonsensical, but always animated with an authenticity that rings true to the reader. Kenji felt that all living creatures are brothers and that happiness in the true sense is impossible for the individual to attain unless he seeks the happiness of all other living things as well. For Kenji, this was not just an idea: walking over the hills and fields, he would often lose himself entirely in the contemplation of animals, plants, rocks, the wind, clouds, rainbows, or the stars. He found joy in this empathy with the natural world he encountered, which is the source of the energy that imparts such a rich vitality to his work. Readers are able to perceive in Miyazawa Kenji's prolific works his views on the arrogance of modern man toward nature; the interconnection of man, animated nature, the earth, and the universe; and the pathway to a new cosmology. — from http://www.kenji-world.net/english/who/who.html
There was a major disaster in Japan on March, 11 last year, an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant meltdown. This unfortunate event happened in the Tohoku region where Kenji worked tirelessly all his life to help people who suffered from drought. Kenji himself lived through a large earthquake and tsunami disaster in 1933. The whole world mourns and fears in the aftermath of last year's accident. Still, the nuclear leakage problem has not been solved. What would Kenji think if he were alive today? This has been in our thoughts as we create this piece. What we should do now for our future?
“ARt Seeds to ARt Sprouts Project 2012″
“ARt Seeds to ARt Sprouts Project 2012″
Concept: Kayoko Nakajima
Improvisational/Contact Improvisational Dance: Kayoko Nakajima, Carly Czach
Improvising Drawing: Fred Hatt, Michael Imlay, Ivana Basic, Jennifer Giuglianotti
Contume: Aya Shibahara
Video: Charles Dennis
Watch Video Clips
February 18, Sat. 2012
7:30pm
Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance
558 Fulton Street, 2nd Floor (near Flatbush Ave.)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Admission Price: Donations gratefully accepted
For reservations go to http://bootstrapcelebration.eventbrite.com
This is the part of the NYFA Bootstrap Festival : A Celebration of Movement and Interdisciplinary Art: featuring Nicola Iervasi, Artistic Director, Mare Nostrum Elements, Kayoko Nakajima with Carly Czach, and Clark Jackson.
Subway stops:
2/3/4/5 at Nevins St.
B/Q/R at DeKalb Ave.
2/3/4/5/N/Q/R/B/D at Atlantic Ave./Pacific
"EARTHDANCE RENEWAL NYC, 2011"
EARTHDANCE RENEWAL NYC, with live connection to the 25th Anniversary Gala holiday party at Earthdance, Saturday December 17th!
Watch Video of the performance
Fabulous full-course vegetarian dinner, Live Skype Toast, Performances, Afterparty!
Featuring:
... GABRIEL FORESTIERI, chef!
... RICHARD KIM, viola!
... Kayoko Nakajima & Carly Czach, Contact Improv!
... SARA ZIMMERMAN, dance!
... DEB DISBROW + GILLIAN CHADSEY, theater!
... PETER SCISCIOLI + DEB DISBROW, MCs!
... OPHRA WOLF + CHARLIE MOSLEY + MEL LEE, hosts*!
... PRIVATE RETREAT at EARTHDANCE for 2**, raffle prize!
... 25th Anniversary T-shirts! mugs! tape and markers to label your mug! toast!
Celebrate Earthdance's 25th birthday with supporters here in New York City at the same time as the Gala event up at Earthdance! Save your gas money. Give your gas money! Make your support last into 2012 by strengthening local relationships to the creative retreat center you love.Saturday, December 17, 2011
7pm Dinner
9pm Performance + Live Skype Toast + Party (desserts + cash bar)
@ Force and Flow Studio, 1102 Dean St (Bedford/Franklin), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
$22.50 - if purchased by midnight, Monday Dec 12th
$25 - purchase by Friday Dec 16th
$10 - Performance and party ONLY (suggested donation at the door, no one turned away)
* Additional Organizing Committee members JOVANINA PAGANO! PETER J. HELLER! NYC Earthdance Board Members CHISA HIDAKA! KAREN BERNARD!
** 2d/2n private retreat for 2 at Earthdance subject to schedule availability.
All proceeds will benefit Earthdance and its programs.
Watch Video of the performance
Fabulous full-course vegetarian dinner, Live Skype Toast, Performances, Afterparty!
Featuring:
... GABRIEL FORESTIERI, chef!
... RICHARD KIM, viola!
... Kayoko Nakajima & Carly Czach, Contact Improv!
... SARA ZIMMERMAN, dance!
... DEB DISBROW + GILLIAN CHADSEY, theater!
... PETER SCISCIOLI + DEB DISBROW, MCs!
... OPHRA WOLF + CHARLIE MOSLEY + MEL LEE, hosts*!
... PRIVATE RETREAT at EARTHDANCE for 2**, raffle prize!
... 25th Anniversary T-shirts! mugs! tape and markers to label your mug! toast!
Celebrate Earthdance's 25th birthday with supporters here in New York City at the same time as the Gala event up at Earthdance! Save your gas money. Give your gas money! Make your support last into 2012 by strengthening local relationships to the creative retreat center you love.Saturday, December 17, 2011
7pm Dinner
9pm Performance + Live Skype Toast + Party (desserts + cash bar)
@ Force and Flow Studio, 1102 Dean St (Bedford/Franklin), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
$22.50 - if purchased by midnight, Monday Dec 12th
$25 - purchase by Friday Dec 16th
$10 - Performance and party ONLY (suggested donation at the door, no one turned away)
* Additional Organizing Committee members JOVANINA PAGANO! PETER J. HELLER! NYC Earthdance Board Members CHISA HIDAKA! KAREN BERNARD!
** 2d/2n private retreat for 2 at Earthdance subject to schedule availability.
All proceeds will benefit Earthdance and its programs.