EN: a raincity street dance - the work has begun

We are working on a new piece for the Dancing on the Edge Festival – which is an extension of EN (circle/fate) the piece we did for the Procession of Performing Circles (LIVE Biennale) in March 2010. Composer and taiko master Eien Hunter-Ishikawa and TomoeArts director Colleen Lanki have been working on creating the music and shape of the piece…meeting and improvising movements and music.

And we are featuring projections using photos of people and places in Vancouver's downtown eastside, commissioned from five community photographers connected to Hope in Shadows. We met over a week ago and they are busy taking photos now...The Pivot Legal Society wrote about our first meeting: http://pivotlegal.org/node/307

We're going to post updates as the process continues - about the music, the movement, the text, the photos...and the rain (the show is about rain after all...)

Odori: A Brief Background on The World of Kabuki Dance

Kabuki theatre was the primary theatrical entertainment during Japan’s Edo period (17th through 19th centuries), and odori was the dance form used in kabuki performances. Today, odori continues to charm audiences with intricate costumes, riveting characters, enthralling storylines and a vast array of moods. “Many pieces within the odori repertoire are very much plays unto themselves,” says TomoeArts Artistic Director Colleen Lanki, who will share the stage with master dancers Fujima Shôgo, Izumi Tokuho, and Fujima Monyo. Fujima Shôgo is Lanki’s longtime teacher and a celebrated performer who has performed on countless international stages over the last two decades. “The artists we’re bringing from Japan are masters of odori, and their participation in this project is a real treat for Vancouver audiences,” says Lanki. The quartet will perform character-driven pieces from the odori repertoire.

Odori: The World of Kabuki Dance April 10-11, 2010

Odori: The World of Kabuki Dance showcases odori the dance of the kabuki theatre performed by 3 master dancer-actors from Japan: Fujima Shôgo, Izumi Tokuho and Fujima Monyo. These master dancers will join TomoeArts artistic director Colleen Lanki (Fujima Sayû) to bring Vancouver audiences two evenings of the art of odori - kabuki dance.

Do not miss this rare chance to see dances from the kabuki theatre performed in full costume wig and make-up!

There is a free lecture-demo on kabuki dance on April 9 at 7:30pm.

There will also be workshops, a display of kabuki ukiyoe (woodblock prints) and a series of talks and lectures. Please check the TomoeArts website soon for a complete list of events or contact info@tomoearts.org.


Tickets prices are $25/$20 seniors/$15 students.

To purchase call the Theatre at UBC box office: 604.822.2678.
Theatre at UBC website: www.theatre.ubc.ca

Classes in Nihon Buyoh Start: January 14th, 2010

Start the new year by trying something completely different by taking movement classes from TomoeArts' artistic director, Colleen Lanki.

Nihon Buyoh is the dance form of Japanese classical dance performed in kabuki theatre and by the famous Geisha.

DATES: January 14 - April 1, 2010
TIMES: Thursdays at 7:00-8:00
LOCATION: Scotiabank Dance Centre - Marcuse Studio 7th Floor
COST: $180.00 plus GST for the sessions (12 classes). ** There will also be a $35 cost for the purchase of a dance fan.

The beginner course aims to introduce some of the forms, aesthetics and context of nihon buyoh. It is open to dancers, actors and anyone interested in Japanese dance or culture. No previous dance experience is necessary.

Beginner classes involve learning one or two short dances as an introduction to female form (onnagata) and male form (otokogata). There will also be some video-viewing of dance performances and an overview of the background of kabuki dance and nihon buyoh. Classes are taught in English with some Japanese.

Participants are required to wear tabi (Japanese split-toed socks) or white socks and, if possible, a yukata (cotton kimono).

For more details call 604.607.5978 or contact info(at)tomoearts.org.

Private lessons are also available. Please call to discuss details.

Welcome to TomoeArts!

Hello and welcome to our new blog for TomoeArts. We are a Vancouver-based production company that specializes in performing all styles of traditional nihon buyoh, or Japanese classical dance and theatre.

We create new pieces based on classical forms and aesthetics, working across traditions and disciplines. We explore contemporary creations of dance, theatre and interdisciplinary performance based on Japanese aesthetic principles, working towards projects that will
expand the contemporary performance vocabulary.

TomoeArts wants to make the aesthetics and principles of Japanese classical dance part of the cultural vocabulary of our community, and by doing this, foster connections between languages, cultures, methodologies and disciplines. Thus, TomoesArts is committed to education and outreach, offering courses, private classes, workshops, lecture-demos and performances for special events.

As an extension to this we hope this forum will help to educate our audiences further by providing you with information on the beauty, the history and the contemporary applications and fusion of nihon buyoh and other theatrical styles.