*1 SAYUSA–Left-Right-Left
A collaborative project between the Yokohama Noh Theater and the Japan Society in New York City that combined elements of contemporary dance and Noh (global premiere at the Yokohama Noh Theater, Sept. 2017). The Sayusa of the title refers to a dance form (kata) in the Noh repertoire. The initial concepts and translation were the work of Donald Lawrence Keene, a scholar of Japanese literature and Noh, who drew on aspects of two Noh plays: Okina, which has come to be described as being “a Noh play, yet not” and Hagoromo, which in turn draws on a narrative centering around a celestial feather robe that exists in legends widely throughout East Asia. The choreography was by New York City based Luca Veggetti, a choreographer with extensive knowledge on Noh, and Genjiro Okura served as musical director. Performers: Akira Kasai (dancer), Megumi Nakamura (dancer), Yukio Suzuki (dancer), Rinzo Nagayama (utai recitation, Noh dancer), Rokurobyoe Fujita (Noh flute), Genjiro Okura (shoulder drum).
*2 NDT
NDT was established in 1959 by former members of the Dutch National Opera and Ballet company who wanted to create dance pieces that they would truly like to perform. In 1978, one of the great choreographers of the 20th century, Czech-born) Jiří Kylián, assumed the post of artistic director and world renowned for works that did not rely on stage art but created radically new group dances for skilled dancers based on analytical interpretations of music. Before resigning as artistic director in 1999, he created and presented more than 50 works that established his reputation for contemporary ballet worldwide. From 1987, NDT has been based in the Hague’s Lucent Danstheater. NDT is divided into three groups, NDT1 comprised of international dancers between the ages of 21 and 38, NDT2 for dancers between the ages of 17 and 22, and NDT3 for dancers over the age of 40. In addition to its nine artistic directors, NDT has worked with world-renowned contemporary choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Alexander Ekman and Saburo Teshigawara possessed of their own unique worlds of dance expression to present approximately 600 works over the years. The current artistic director is Paul Lightfoot. Until present, Japanese-born dancers who have been members of NDT include Megumi Nakamura, Kenta Kojiri, Ema Yuasa, Madoka Kariya, Rena Narumi and Yukino Takaura.
*3 The ballet studio headed by Yasuyuki Shuto
http://www.thestudio.jp/