Tag ‘Ballet Collaboration’
“The Finale of ‘Kaguyahime'” by Yui Kawamoto
The Finale of “Kaguyahime”
The “Kaguyahime” performance series in Montreal has come to an end!
I’m calling this just a temporary goodbye to all the cast, including Les Grands Ballets, who we have worked with since 2012.
Looking forward to seeing you all again, somewhere in the world!
To everyone who attended the performance, the wonderfully talented cast members, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal who invited us to be a part of this beautiful program:
Thank you very much for a magical time!
Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
(Photo: Damian Siqueiros / Dancers: Jerimy Rivera & Edi Blloshmi)
Video of Ballet Production “Tamashii”: Kodo Collaboration with Morihiro Iwata
Kodo Collaboration with Morihiro Iwata at “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship”
On Sep. 3, 2015, Kodo’s Eiichi Saito, Maya Minowa, and Mizuki Yoneyama played the accompaniment for a ballet performance at the “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship” in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia. Here is the video of the performance.
(Courtesy of the Morihiro Iwata Performing Arts Foundation Facebook Page)
2015SEP03 TAMASHII @ ULAN UDE岩田守弘芸術財団です!すっかり秋色深まったこの季節、皆様いかがお過ごしでしょうか。本日は、2015年9月3日にロシア連邦・ブリヤート共和国において開催されました「ロシア・日本 平和友好文化フェスティバル」にて披露された岩田守弘演出作品『魂』のダイジェスト動画が太鼓芸能集団「鼓童」様より寄せられましたのでここに特別公開させていただきます。—◎タイトルバレエ “魂”◎開催地ロシア連邦・ブリヤート共和国 首都ウラン・ウデ◎演出岩田守弘(ブリヤート国立歌劇場バレエ 芸術監督)◎出演・太鼓芸能集団「鼓童」齊藤栄一蓑輪真弥米山水木(以上「鼓童」)+・ロシア国立「ボリショイ・バレエ」ニーナ・カプツォーワクセーニヤ・プチョルキナマリヤ・ミーシナエブゲーニヤ・サバルスカヤイーゴリ・ツベルコアレクセイ・マトラホフアレクサンドル・サモリニーノフ(以上「ボリショイ・バレエ」)ビクトル・ダンピーロフミハイル・オフチャロフ(以上「ブリヤート国立歌劇場バレエ団」)+岩田守弘(敬称略)—芸術の秋、この特別公開動画をどうぞお楽しみ下さい。*視聴時には画面右下[HD]の表示をクリックしてご覧になることをおすすめします=クリアな映像になります
Posted by 岩田守弘芸術財団 on 2015年10月7日
Kodo Collaboration with Morihiro Iwata at “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship
“Cooking Together” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
Oct. 15, 2015
I’ve been in Canada for a week now. When we travel abroad, we usually eat out for most of our meals. It’s enjoyable to eat local food to experience a place, but we also long for the tastes of Japan.
This time while I’m in Montreal, I have a kitchen in my hotel room. So I decided to cook while I’m here!
For this particular lunch, each person was in charge of bringing along one part of the same dish.
Ryosuke was in charge of the vegetables: carrots, onions, and potatoes. The onion was almost as big as his face!
I was in charge of the pork, which I carved myself.
Kenta was in charge of the rice.
Yuta was in charge of the curry roux… so yes, that’s right: we made Japanese curry together!
When we all get together and cook like this, it reminds me of life at the Kodo Apprentice Centre and living in the dorm at Kodo Village.
Curry tastes so good when you make it and eat it with others. We made a full pot and ate every last bit. (LOL)
This should see us through the rehearsals this afternoon!
Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
(Photo: Damian Siqueiros / Dancers: Jerimy Rivera & Edi Blloshmi)
“Ready for ‘Kaguyahime’!” by Kenta Nakagome
Oct. 14, 2015
We had our full dress rehearsal for “Kaguyahime” today.
It’s our opening night tomorrow!
Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
(Photo: Damian Siqueiros / Dancers: Jerimy Rivera & Edi Blloshmi)
“Mr. de Roo’s Special Souvenir” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
Just as we thought the colours of autumn were getting richer, all of a sudden there was snow in Montreal! Over the weekend the temperature fell and today it was just 1℃ during the day. Of course, the cold is no problem for Kodo! We are all doing our best!
We had rehearsals on Sado Island, then further rehearsals after we arrived in Montreal, and last week the curtain rose on the 2015 season of “Kaguyahime”! Every day our conductor, Mr. Michael de Roo, made detailed adjustments to the music as the dancers rehearsed on stage.
The choreographers are so serious during the rehearsals, but during the breaks we can see their playful side, too!
The percussionists are all so friendly. I’ll tell you more about them and our interactions with them soon!
Back to the conductor, Mr. de Roo. A certain item has pride of place on his music stand. Can you guess what it is?
It’s a Hokusetsu notepad!
Hokusetsu is the name of a sake brewery in Akadomari on Sado Island. Mr. de Roo likes Japanese sake, especially sake from Sado! During our rehearsals at Kodo Village, it turns out that he visited the Hokusetsu Brewery for a tour and was given this notepad!
When we saw Mr. de Roo’s beloved souvenir from Sado Island in Canada, it warmed our hearts.
Kodo Appearance in Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
(Photo: Damian Siqueiros / Dancers: Jerimy Rivera & Edi Blloshmi)
“The ‘Kaguyahime’ Cast Leaves Sado” by Kenta Nakagome
Oct. 5, 2015
Today, the cast for “Kaguyahime” left Sado Island.
See you later, sunny Sado Island! Canada, here we come!
Kodo Appearance in Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
“Exclusive Kodo Costume for Kaguyahime” by Yui Kawamoto
The Kodo performers had their costumes fitted for “Kaguyahime.”
These costumes were made especially for each of the performers according to their personal size.
They are so comfortable that they all want to take their one home.
In the costumes, we saw this tag:
This Kodo costume is exclusive to Kaguyahime!
Kodo Appearance in Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
Kodo Cast: Masaru Tsuji, Kenta Nakagome, Eri Uchida, Maya Minowa, Yuta Sumiyoshi, Tetsumi Hanaoka, Ryosuke Inada
“Rehearsals for ‘Kaguyahime’ on Sado” by Yui Kawamoto
Something is different about the rehearsal hall at Kodo Village this week.
An elegant, comfortable, special sound is resonating throughout the building… what can it be?
It is the sound of the Sado-based rehearsals for “Kaguyahime”!
We are currently rehearsing with conductor Michael de Roo and Gagaku (Japanese court music) ensemble Reigakusha for this month’s ballet performances that will be held in Montreal, Canada.
Here’s to the next performance season of “Kaguyahime” in Montreal! See you soon in Canada!
Kodo Appearance in Ballet Performance “Kaguyahime: The Moon Princess”
Oct. 15 (Thu)–30 (Fri), 2015 Montreal, Canada
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20151015kaguyahime_en.html
“Abundant Autumn” by Tomohiro Mitome
Oct. 1. 2015
Hello everyone. I hope that you are all well.
This is Tomohiro Mitome, leader of taiko performing arts ensemble Kodo.
October has arrived and we are enjoying sunny days with a slight chill in the air. Some decades ago, there was snowy rain in October, but I think that due to global warming in recent years, the fall season on Sado has gotten somewhat longer.
Kodo held numerous performances throughout Japan this September with the “Eternity” and “Interactive Performances” touring from Hokkaido down to Shikoku, our “Special Performances” here on Sado Island, and an array of solo and small ensemble projects, too. Each of our two tours included special projects, collaborations, and workshops, so their days have been filled with all kinds of activities.
I took part in the “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island,” centered around our Distinguished Members. This was the fourth year for this series. For the Autumn concerts, we had a cast of eight featuring veterans, junior members, and Maya Minowa for the first time. We gave seven performances over four days during Silver Week. The venue, Shukunegi Public Hall, was built 57 years ago and renovations have commenced this fall to strengthen it against earthquakes and restore it. We look forward to seeing the finished renewal next spring.
Photo: Damian Siqueiros
Dancers: Jerimy Rivera & Edi Blloshmi
The Interactive Performance team finished their Japan tour at the end of September and have returned to Sado to rehearse for their upcoming ballet collaboration in Montreal, “Kaguyahime.” Kodo also took part in this ballet with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal in Canada three years ago.
“Kaguyahime” is a ballet suite by the late Maki Ishii, who also composed Kodo’s signature pieces Monochrome and Dyu-ha. He wrote Kaguyahime for a ballet danced to Western percussion, Japanese court music, and wadaiko. For most of the performance, Kodo performs in the orchestra pit, but there are also some scenes where we perform on stage. The production includes a furious battle scene where the Western percussion and Japanese taiko go head to head.
Here on Sado Island, October is an action-packed month for the Kodo apprentices. On top of their usual training, they will give Interactive Performances at junior high schools on Sado, host live-in workshop Kodo Juku at the Apprentice Centre, and have the valuable experience of harvesting the persimmons, rice, and other crops they have been growing over the past months.
At the end of September, we held information sessions for prospective apprentices in Tokyo and Osaka. Some people know they want to join Kodo on stage, but they are anxious when faced with a two-year apprenticeship and wonder how they will find it training here. Of course, it’s easier to imagine if they visit the Centre before applying, but since it’s difficult for some people to come up to have a look around, we have started holding info sessions in these two main citiess in the last couple of years. Today, our applications opened for the 2016 intake. We look forward to greeting our new applicants as they step forward for this challenge of a lifetime.
In Japan, we say that autumn is the season for performing arts.
We hope to see you all soon at a Kodo performance somewhere.
“Performance at ‘Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship'” by Takuro Susaki
Sep. 7, 2015
Performance at “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship”
On September 3, Kodo’s Eiichi Saito, Maya Minowa and Mizuki Yoneyama performed at the “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship” in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
This opportunity came about thanks to an invitation to perform from the artistic director of the Buryat National Academic House of Ballet, Mr. Morihiro Iwata. Kodo appeared in the first act of the concert in a work that he choreographed called “Tamashii (Spirit),” which premiered in 2008 and was created to accompany Kodo recordings. This 2015 collaboration was the first time for the ballet to be danced to live Kodo music.
The Buryat National Ballet and invited guests from Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater Ballet danced with such liveliness and portrayed an array of emotions on stage with such subtle details. Their performance seemed to truly inspire and invigorate the Kodo members who shared the stage with them.
During our short yet enriching stay, we also got taken to see Ivolginsky Datsan Temple and Lake Baikal. We are already looking forward to the day when we can collaborate with Mr. Iwata again.
Kodo Collaboration with Morihiro Iwata at “Russia-Japan Cultural Festival for Peace and Friendship”
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150903peace&friendship_en.html