Performance Company Nibroll’s new performance “A Journey Without Distance”

This summer, the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center celebrated its 60th anniversary.
The performance company Nibroll will be presenting a new production, ``A Journey Without Distance.''

This performance, which will be performed at Studio HIKARI, which was renovated in the spring of 2019 as a space specializing in performances including dance, music, and art, and physical expression using the body and voice, will start outside the theater as a "migratory" performance. To do.
The idea is that performers and audience members can freely walk and travel together into the theater.
``Outside the theater'' is a ``plaza'' that takes advantage of the original design concept of Kunio Maekawa, a representative architect of Japanese modernist architecture who designed the youth center, music hall, and library.
Like Studio HIKARI, performances will also be held in this plaza, which was extensively renovated during the renovation in 2019, and is truly a ``journey without distance'' created by the audience, artists, and space itself coming together. High school students living or attending Kanagawa Prefecture are also scheduled to participate, and related events include dance and video workshops.

Rehearsal in the plaza in front of the youth center, which was completed in 2019. The camphor tree towering in the center is magnificent! Provided by: Prefectural Youth Center

On the day of the event, we were packed with rehearsals, and although we were limited to about one hour, I was completely drawn into the artistic and profound world of Yanaihara. Please enjoy!

Artistic and somehow charming! Very attractive Mr. Yanaihara Provided by: Prefectural Youth Center

■Please tell us the background behind the creation of the traveling performance “Traveling without Distance”

Well, as a stage performer, I've always worked only on stage, only inside a box...
Actually, I've been thinking for a long time that I wanted to create not just a theater space, but a work in which outside and inside, space, and the body are all loosely connected.
Even though we had hoped to do so, until now it had been quite difficult to make it happen due to conditions such as the number of spectators and other factors.
Meanwhile, the world was placed in a harsh environment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I think that under such harsh conditions we realized the importance of our bodies. ``The body is something that cannot be replaced by anything else, and cannot be separated from oneself.'' I think he must have sensed the magnitude of its presence, whether he wanted to or not.
It was the same for me, and when I was performing on stage, I started to become very concerned about how to position the audience.
Of course, we were under special circumstances where we had to keep our distance, but I think the audience felt even more distant and distant from us.
That's why I decided to create something where the performers, audience, space, sound, and images are all close together, allowing everyone to express and feel with their whole bodies.
I feel like I was able to finally make this happen, even though I was selfish and caused trouble for everyone at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center, who I had a connection with (lol).

■What is the ideal way to position the audience?

I guess it's like when you go to see a work of art at an art museum.
Customers don't sit and admire artwork, right? You can freely look around at various works that are wonderful and captivating, and you will feel the voices of the creators and works speaking to you right next to the work.
That's why I wanted to give both viewers and performers more freedom of choice by making it possible to "migrate" in the same way on stage.
Isn't the body more amazing than a work of art? ! Just by raising your hand, bending it, or taking a cup of tea, the space changes. hey? Your body is amazing! (lol)
If you look at someone properly, there are moments when you can even see the life the person has led.
In this performance, the audience is close to each other, and the idea of ``traveling together and reaching the goal together'' is that not only the dancers but also the audience can experience the meaning of their physical existence. That's the biggest point. The highlight is that Nibroll's unique visuals and music are interwoven with the changes in the space, so that each place feels different.

Rehearsal at the “Hiroba” Provided by: Prefectural Youth Center

■Please tell us about the choreography.

There are four performers appearing in this performance. All the kids have been dealing with their bodies, so it's sure to be very interesting to watch. Again, by having the bodies of the audience and the performers on the same level, the aim is for the audience to experience the way each performer walks and lives their own memories.
I'm also conscious of using choreography and words that express "life" such as sunlight and light, so that it doesn't become technical like ballet or modern art. It's very difficult to connect words and the body (dance), and very few people can do it, but I guess what I'm aiming for is a ``true'' fusion of dance and theater.

A scene from rehearsals in the "Piazza". What does the whole body express? Provided by: Prefectural Youth Center

Indoor performance rehearsal Provided by: Nibrol

■How do you want high school students to participate?

This time, we asked high school students to take part in the role of ``trees,'' and have the audience walk through the hallway where they are lined up as trees. There is a special trick that combines sound and video as you pass by, so please look forward to it!
I believe that this experience for high school students will greatly influence their future lives. Personally, I was taught by a high school student that not only technical things, but also more everyday movements, such as opening a window, drinking tea, and raising a hand, are all connected to dance. It was time. I definitely think that without that experience I would not have become a dancer.
I feel like I want to teach them how to move freely when they feel like it.
I would be happy if even just one person was born who could shine in this industry in the future (lol)

Thank you very much, Mr. Yanaihara!

>■ Nibrol “Journey without Distance” performance information

Starring: Moe Aoki, Takahiro Hosoya, Emi Koyama, Anna Kuroda
Direction and choreography...Mikuni Yanaihara
Video, lighting, art...Keisuke Takahashi
Music...SKANK
Costume...Yosuke Tanaka
Video/lighting assistant...David Kirkpatrick
Advertising art...Keisuke Takahashi
Production: Izumi Kasagi
Cooperation...Kinki University Yanaihara Laboratory Murasaki Penguin

date and time
July 22nd (Friday) 17:00
July 23rd (Saturday) 13:00-17:00
July 24th (Sunday) 13:00-17:00
*Performance time is scheduled to be approximately 60 minutes.

venue
Prefectural Youth Center Studio HIKARI

Fee
General advance sale 3,000 yen
General 3,500 yen on the day
Advance ticket for those 18 and under: 1,500 yen on the day (please present ID showing age on the day)
*This performance will be a traveling performance.
*Outside seating is standing, and inside Studio HIKARI all seats are non-reserved.
*In case of rain or stormy weather, the event will be held only at Studio HIKARI.