The Kanagawa Prefectural Art and Dance Association, a public interest incorporated association, began in 1958 when nine dancers active in Kanagawa Prefecture gathered together to hold a joint dance performance. Currently, the association has over 250 members and continues to work to make art and dance accessible to even more people.
Among the various performance activities, including competitions, one that attracts attention is "Red Brick Dance Art" held at Yokohama Red Brick Building No. 1.
*From Naka Morimoto's work "Oden and Dance"
This performance, which aims to nurture young dancers and choreographers, will be held for the 10th time this year, with 14 groups participating. In a unique space where they can feel the audience's reaction directly, each group will perform their own unique dance.
We visited the rehearsal held before the performance on Saturday, June 8th, and asked the talented dancers about their thoughts on dance.
The person who monopolizes the space and dances freely is Tomomi Fujii , who has been dancing since she was a child, influenced by her mother, who is a dancer. This time, she will dance her own new piece, "Painting the Sky."
"I feel that the Red Brick Stage is a unique space where you can feel the ships anchored outside and the endless sky and sea. I am the type of person who choreographs based on images that I have thought out in my head, and this time I created the piece with the image of "sky" in mind. It is up to the viewer to decide how they feel about it, but I would be happy if they could feel some kind of image when they see my dance and have their minds wander somewhere."
The first performers in the second half will be Yuko Ishihara and Hiroya Yoshizaki . Both are up-and-coming dancers who were active in the dance troupe "Noism" based at Ryutopia (Niigata City Performing Arts Center). This time, they will be performing "UMU", a new piece choreographed by Yoshizaki.
Apparently, the idea of Ishihara wearing a mask was something Yoshizaki "suddenly came up with" the night before rehearsal.
"The white mask evokes the image of an 'innocent existence.' When I think of accidents in which defenseless young lives are suddenly taken, something wells up inside me. I thought that by adding anonymity by wearing a mask, it would be a piece that many people could sympathize with."
"It's interesting when people who watch my work sense something I didn't intend and say, 'That's what it looked like.' That's what I'm communicating with the audience through the work, so as a choreographer, that's what interests me.
I believe there are no "things you shouldn't do" or "mistakes" in contemporary dance. What the viewer feels is the "right answer" for that person. Naturally, your impression will change depending on your physical condition and mood at the time. I hope that people will just watch the performance without thinking about anything and accept what they feel as it is."
A sneak peek at the "UMU" rehearsal scene!
Red Brick Dance Art 2019
[Date and time] June 8, 2019 (Saturday) 14:00 start / 18:00 start
[Venue] Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 1, 3F Hall
[Price] ¥ 3,000
[Organizer] Kanagawa Prefectural Arts and Dance Association
https://dancekanagawa.jp/
