Hirokazu Tategata's Danceable LIFE Vol.9

Time to slowly face myself
Hirokazu Tategata (Actor, Dancer, Choreographer)

Since March, all performances that I was scheduled to appear in or choreographed have been canceled. We are still feeling our way around as to how we will be able to resume our activities, but for now, I would like to take this opportunity to look back on the past three months.

To be honest, the days when I couldn't go anywhere or see anyone were tough. But if I just kept thinking about that, I would end up feeling negative. So I decided to make good use of the time I was given.

The first thing I did was declutter!

I've been busy for a while now, so I've been busy cleaning up all sorts of things that I've been ignoring. I also found some nostalgic photos, so I'd like to share them with you.

This was an early performance from when I first started to produce my own solo performances. I borrowed a black tent studio in Kagurazaka and performed a solo dance based on "The Nighthawk Star" (written by Miyazawa Kenji).

I also found a lot of nostalgic things, such as videos of plays I had performed in and work documents, but I decided to get rid of anything that I no longer needed.

When we stop while everyone around us is busy moving, we tend to feel guilty, as if we are being lazy, but this time, time has stopped for people all over the world... I have the utmost respect for those who are working hard in difficult circumstances. At the same time, I feel that it is precisely because of times like these that I have had time to really reflect on myself. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I feel purified and lighter, and I think I can start walking towards the next step with a renewed sense of purpose.

Another initiative we undertook was remote teaching.
I have been teaching at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music for five years, and this year's classes have started remotely.
I managed to get through the first week of guidance. The problem was the practical session that began in the second week. I always tell students to "use your body vigorously" and "move around a lot," but it's difficult to practice in your living room. I've managed to get by by borrowing a friend's studio or opening up part of my campus, but some students have poor Wi-Fi or are taking classes from their apartments, so it's a pretty tough situation. This situation isn't just "for now," so I think I need to change my mindset and start thinking about how to offer lessons online.

Of course, there is an atmosphere that cannot be conveyed through a camera, a certain "heat" and "vibration" that can only be felt live. My belief remains that the appeal of performing arts lies in sharing the same space and feeling the clash of energy.

What do you want to do most right now? I guess it would be to meet up with close friends, eat delicious food, and drink delicious wine (laughs). Even though I've just been at home alone for so long, I feel a strange sense of tension and it feels like stress is building up without me realizing it. I just want to relax, so I'd like to go to a hot spring (laughs).

In that sense, I'm starting to miss the atmosphere of the rehearsal room.
The first step in my resumption of activities will be the Super Myth Musical Dramatic Kojiki 2020, which will open at the end of July. It is a revival of the work that was originally adapted for the stage in 2013, and I will once again be playing Amaterasu. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in July, so I am very much looking forward to it.
I hope to be able to slowly get things moving again, while taking measures to avoid the three Cs.