Beyond Ballet, Beyond Hip-Hop

In The Dying Swan & Its Cause of Death, one of Japan’s leading prima ballerinas, Hana Sakai, performs her graceful dance of the timeless Western classic ballet to Saint-Saëns’ famous music. Immediately after, Sakai starts trudging, wobbling and speaking aloud about why she, the swan, had to die–a hilarious take by visionary director/playwright Toshiki Okada that delves into environmental issues. The other piece in this double bill, Encounter, is performed by the all-woman dance group MWMW, led by Moto Takahashi. They challenge gender norms with their stunning hip-hop techniques and ensemble movements. This program will be accompanied by Udai Shika on cello. Don’t miss your chance to see these genre-defying works that are breaking new ground in Japan’s dance scene!