Award-winning Japanese choreographer, Shigehiro Ide, director of the Idevian Crew, will bring together the dancers from Japan and Thailand to embark on the collaboration project “KOKASHITA” to amuse the audience with his humorous take on the two Asian cultures. Presented by The Japan Foundation, “KOKASHITA” will be performed in Chiang Mai and Bangkok in late January.
Produced by the international performing arts festival, ‘Festival/Tokyo’, the first version of “KOKASHITA” was presented during the festival in March 2009 in Tokyo, after 40 days of intensive rehearsal between the Japanese performers and their six Thai counterparts who were selected in an earlier audition in Bangkok. They include dancer Kanison Youngprampree; actor and director Grisana Punpeng; dancer, actor, writer and TV producer Korakot Puangsawad; dancing twins Chanchana and Chayanuch Akjiratikarl; and the 8X8 Theatre comedian Akeera Modesakoon.
“KOKASHITA” is a Japanese term describing the space beneath Tokyo’s elevated rail tracks and highways — a feature shared by the Bangkok cityscape. In his choreography, Ide uses the idea of these small gaps to illustrate the gaps and differences between the two cultures. Gestures, movements and snippets of everyday life in Japan and Thailand are transformed to spark off comic, intriguing and thought-provoking theatrical moments.
The Tokyo premiere of “KOKASHITA” has received huge attention from the contemporary dance community and won acclaims from both the critics and audiences alike. The Japanese and Thai performers will reunion in Patravadi Theatre for 20 days to further develop and bring a new version to the Bangkok public.
Shigehiro Ide is a versatile Japanese artist whose works have received international attention. Ide is known for his ability in bringing out the unique personalities of the performers - among them, some are not formally trained as dancers – to create an idiosyncratic stage that connects life and performance. Ide’s works extend across different media and cultures. He recently collaborated with the band Tokyo Incidents led by popular singer-songwriter Ringo Shiina, and had created choreography for English dance company Diversions.
Among the awards that Shigehiro Ide received are the Audience Award at the German Arena Festival (1995), the Outstanding Staff Award of the 11th Yomiuri Theater Grand Prix Awards, The 3rd Asahi Beer Arts Foundation Award and the 2nd Japan Dance Forum Award.
Performance “KOKASHITA”
CHIANG MAI
Date/Time: 24 January 2010 (Sun.) 19.00 hrs.
Venue: Theater of Chiang Mai University Art Center
Admission: FREE
BANGKOK
Date/Time: 29 January 2010 (Fri.) 20.00 hrs.
Venue: Theatre-in-the-Garden, Patravadi Theatre
Tickets: 300, 100 Baht
Tickets are now available at Total Reservation, www.totalreservation.com or hotline 02-833-5555 to book the tickets. Total Reservation outlets: Siam Paragon, Emporium, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, BTS Mo Chit, BTS Victory Monument, The Mall: Bangkae, Bangkapi, Thapra, Ramkhamhaeng and Ngamwongwan.
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