Yuki says...

Yuki is one of the dancers from RS Musical. She is 22 years old and wants to pursue a career in musical theater. When we first met she asked me to teach a dance class for her and a few of her students. After spending one day together with a bit of a barrier between our two languages we found out that there was a lot of information I could give her. So we spent the night together, went to the bath house, I taught her a dance class as well as a private lesson from 10-1 and exchanged a ton of information about videos to watch and different styles of dance to look up. She is extremely eager to learn more and more about dance so that she can become a professional somewhere in the world. Presently she is getting her passport so she can come to New York, explore dance, singing and acting and hopefully audition as well. Since her English isn't the best (although it isn't as bad as my Japanese) she promised to spend the next year studying English very hard. Hopefully I will be there next year, or one of my friends, so that she can come and stay for free; showing her the same hospitality her family has shown me.
In this video she talks a little about the work we have done with her and what she has taken from it. check it out!

Here are our new yukata's that the Kondo's bought for Brandon and I. We love them, they are fun and also a lot lighter than I thought they would be...

of course he would...

We are truly excited that the performance is tomorrow, and then RS musical has a performance on the 29th and then...BACK TO NEW YORK!!

YTJ Experience...

This is a video of the dance I choreographed for the students at YTJ (Youth Theater Japan) titled "Free my soul". We literally had 2 and 1/2 hours to learn it...This was taken two days ago and since then we have had one rehearsal and they look great now. Even though some of them are incredibly nervous I am happy to have given them this opportunity to perform. Some of them are not in the show "High School Musical" that is being performed tomorrow so this is their only chance. Also. I was only supposed to use the six dancers that you see featured here in the dance, however because I am stubborn I fought to use everyone equally. I think they are doing a great job...tell me what you think!

Hayama part two...

In the next video he says that he believes this work is important especially for students he has seen living here in Japan. We found that Hayama's daughter (Natsumi) is open and ready as a students and he thinks the reason she's this way is related to her participation in workshops that he has put together before. Unlike so many other Japanese students her age she has been given the chance to express herself constantly either alone or with friends. Hayama talks about Brandon's workshop as well as my workshop and expresses his gratitude for what we are doing here even though we only had four hours with his students.

This workshop opportunity was a step in the right direction as far as putting something together like this in the future. Hayama has been incredibly generous to our group and we are thankful to have come across someone like him and his family. Thank you RS musical, we want to come back!!!

Hayama Says...

After working with the RS Musical kids for only 4 hours we had a chance to interview Hayama San, the coordinator of the workshop for the day. In the video above he talks about what he does for a living.

Two additions to our team...

We've added a few utilities to our site so that your experience will be even more pleasing than we're sure it already is. To the right (as always) are where you'll find the new functions. One is a Search Tool. The other is an RSS feed.

1) The search tool is pretty self explanatory. If you've been using the internet for any amount of time you can work that one out for yourselves. Give it a few days to meet it's full potential, because Google has to "crawl" our blog before the search tool will know to look through every nook and cranny. It's like an electronic game of hide and seek; Google needs to find all of our best hiding spots.

2) The RSS feed is a little less intuitive. Even wikipedia's article might confuse you more on this one. Essentially what it does is allow a user to subscribe to a web-page (mostly blogs or frequently updated material) so that they are notified through a RSS reader or an email of when a particular page is updated. Google has one, as do most internet browsers. The icon to look for looks like this. Hopefully, if you choose to use this option, you won't have to check to see if we've updated. You'll know when we're being lazy... *cough*... I mean busy and when we're diligently working to share our trip with you.

Lastly, a request has been made. Leave comments. Leave them about the posts, about the pictures, about any more crimes Tsukasa has committed. Leave them. We appreciate the personalized emails (keep those coming too), but do help us realize the extent of our support and community. It'll be interesting to see if any dialogue is created in the community, and if there are any questions or requests to expand on certain subjects or events.

As always, we love you.

- us

Dance Dance Dance!!

 

Above is a video of some choreography that the students learned in about 20 minutes. They are talented and quick learners as well as willing which is beautiful. This is a very different way of moving for them, however they were extremely excited to try it out. There are only a few dancers here, but there were 17 in the class. They are musical theater students from the RS Musical group we taught. Watch it and tell me what you think!!

Families...

The descriptions of our daily exploits are listed on the right side of the page, as I’m sure you’ve discovered. In those Chelsea has given you glimpses into our days and hopefully a few pictures and videos to fill in the gaps. Unfortunately, we’re never able to fully capture the spirit of Japan, its people, or the work that we’re doing with the artists we meet.

The aforementioned youths (their pictures can be found here at the bottom of the page) - who are generous in both spirit and action - have only a modicum of charity and warmth compared to their parents. As do all of nature’s young, they learn by imitating the habits of their parents. I’m glad that these kids have followed their urge to imitate. Surely, I’ve never experienced hospitality of the same sort….or even species. Hospitality, love, generosity, compassion…all of these words fall incredibly short what we’ve experienced and what impacts how we shape the rest of the work we are doing here, as well as how we live when we arrive back home.

Whether it’s because we are working with their children or because we’re volunteering our time and energy, these people are invested in us. They aren’t simply being nice to us because we’re here or tolerating us because we’re in their homes. They aren’t trying to bolster the name of their country in the eyes of foreigners or pay us back for our work. They are genuinely and wholeheartedly invested in who we are and what we do, even when we aren’t traipsing about their country spreading knowledge about dance techniques, spatial awareness, syllabic emphasis, and talking about gooey, sappy things like emotions and feelings.

I feel like family, and I think that they consider us so.

- b.e.

Chelsea says this isn't true...

So lazy bums are constantly sleeping. I'd like to update this blog briefly. We took the bullet train to Kyoto on the morning of 16th. Our stay at Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto's (13th through 15th) was great except for Brandon's expanding holes on the paper windows. I spent most of the time in Tokyo fixing his holes.
In Kyoto, on 18th, we performed at a contemporary dance festival organized by Atsushi Heki. That went really well and I got to meet so many old friends. Brandon kept restarting his Dragon Quest 9.
We arrived in Kobe on 19th. I had to go to the DMV because my driver's lisence had expired. On 20th, we visited Toyonaka Family Musical's rehearsal and the kids were awesome! They are going to do "the Wizard of OZ." on 29th. Chelsea and Brandon performed for them. That night, we went to a bath house.
On 21st, we gave about three and 1/2 hour workshop to 17 kids in Osaka. These kids are in the Wizard of OZ, and we did dance, music, and drama workshop. They were so nice, open and excited. Chels will write more about this workshop later. She does what she says she is going to do because she is a dancer. (I hope we will put a video of Chels drunk and shouting, "I do what I say I'm gonna do, coz I'm a dancer!") After the workshop, Chels gave another 3 hour dance class to 4 kids from the same group. B and I also gave a little bit of music and drama workshop to them.
There's a lot more I wanna write about these past 4 days but I just wanna post something before I procrastinate again.
We have 2 and 1/2 hour workshop for 5 days from tomorrow.
--
Tsukasa KONDO

Preliminary...

Last night Dragon Quest IX got the best of me and my post was brought to an abrupt halt as I had to put my adventurers (and Chelsea's - yes, that's right, I got her to play a game!) back on the right path. Not saving one’s progress often enough is always the downfall of any gamer. Though, usually by our mid-twenties we’ve figured this out and plan accordingly so that we don’t have to repeat the story five or six times. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to make up for my lost and re-lost progress as we travelled back and forth and back again to Osaka and various other hotspots for artistic youths.

Yesterday marked a week since we arrived in Japan. First, we stayed just outside of Tokyo-proper for a few days while Chelsea and I adjusted our schedules and Tsukasa broke some paper windows. Kyoto was next, where we performed as soloists and collaborators with various artists. Try here, here, and here  for a few examples of the courageous minds, fingers, and feet with which we conspired. (You may need to turn on your language translator for that last link; it's hard for me to tell since right now all pages show up in Japanese for me). Now, we’re in Kobe, the home of both the Kondos (our hosts, Tsukasa’s parents) and the ever-famous style of rearing and preparing beef. This is where our work has really started to take off and we've made some relationships that will endure the measily tests of time and distance.

I’d talk about the work we did yesterday, but I’m sure Chelsea and Tsukasa will cover enough of that to satisfy your desires. Plus, I’m not ready to talk about it yet. To say the least, I was impacted significantly more than I had anticipated and was surprised by the hospitality of these youths, as well as their willingness to explore the previously -and still- trecherous territories of pre-teen thoughts, hearts, and share them with each other. I’ll address this further when we each write about our individual workshops, sometime over the next few days.
More anon….

- b.e.

He has a title now...

When you live with someone for any amount of time, you begin to learn things about them that you otherwise wouldn’t know. Sometimes you’re better off for it and other times you’d be better off not knowing. I’ve come across some evidence that one of my roommates is a criminal. Since I try not to date criminals you may have a few moments to guess which one I’m talking about.




It appears that Tsukasa is a Vandal. I’m using a capital letter there because whenever I say Tsukasa’s name “the Vandal” follows, whispering to me in my head. Tsukasa the Vandal.

The story goes that he was sleeping one night. Innocently sleeping, like the kind babies and puppies do. However, we know that vandals lie, so we can stop right there.

We can’t take his word for much more than the weight of the paper window he so violently smashed. Yes, those beautiful, clean and elegant paper windows that so carefully fill in the perfect squares of the sliding Japanese doors that we see; one of those delicate creatures was his target. If it weren’t for the light of day and the bustle of a morning kitchen, then there may have been more casualties.

I am no slanderer; let the photos give you all the evidence you need so that you too may start calling Tsukasa by his true name: the Vandal.

This is the heinous and malevolent crime that was committed:

This is what the purity of the window was supposed to look like:

This is the bruised beginning of another violent outburst:

“Tsukasa the Vandal!” Okay, now everyone, all together….

b.e.

The ground beneth our feet...

One and a half years ago conversations began about creating an outreach trip to Japan. At the time, the trip was more about cultural exchange and cross-culture collaborative performance than the teaching and performance & technique workshops we are focused on now. There are still elements of those original plans, but as is inevitable things change. Over the course of our project’s development our numbers fluctuated - in terms of both personnel and finances – our destinations and partnerships shifted, and the general aesthetic of our purpose was, to say the least, rearranged.

I’m not opposed to change, and think of myself as strongly adaptable. This doesn’t mean that change is always easy for me to handle or that I won’t voice my concerns and frustrations at having thoughtfully-laid plans altered. In the end, you’ll still have a well-crafted product or result or whatever is appropriate for the given situation.

The kiln-dried project we now have in our muddy hands is vastly appropriate for the size of our party (now three, down from the original six or seven) and the skills and abilities we have brought along with us. Our project still shifts like tectonic plates - slowly and subtly, creating larger shifts in the shaky terrain of my mind - and while that tends to make me a bit uncomfortable, it is not a bad thing. It's a part of what we're doing and it's a part of what it is to be human.

Our humanity, or someone else's,  is central to our art and is the focus of both the solo works and collaborative piece that we've brought here. Being in stasis, fighting or shaping change and transition, creating or breaking tension, crying, laughing.... they are aspects of what we do and the core of how we (all of us) live.

Without those things, I'm not sure I'd quite see the point.

b.e.

Tsukasa says...

Visiting Japan with Chelsea and Brandon has been very fun and entertaining. They notice so many interesting things about cars, buildings, people that I never even cared about.


I previously talked with them about how I am excited and feel honored to see how these two very talented artists experience this culture and this trip, and also how people in Japan react to the arts we bring. Now, however, I’m starting to understand that this is also a trip for me to rediscover Japan and to find out how I’ve been digesting this unique culture.

It’s been almost two years since I came to the States. I ‘m sure this is going to be perfect timing for me to think about what I’ve gained in NYC over the years and where I’m going as an artist.

Anyway, Japan tour has been great. We got here safely and we didn’t have trouble with jet lags, except for me. I was the one who repeatedly warned them not to sleep too well the night before the flight and to try to sleep as much as possible on the plane because flights between the two countries can cause you a huge jet lag. Now, look who’s dysfunctional because of that! So we spent a day in Tokyo yesterday – what did we do? While I was trying to catch up with Japan’s time zone in the bed, Chelsea and Brandon walked around Korakuen. Chels ate snacks. Brandon is now in love with Onigiri – rice balls.

The town is quiet. Maybe it’s because it’s Bon season now? Bon season is a Buddhist event when we welcome back the spirits of people passed away. People make animals out of vegetables so that the spirits can ride them home and go back. Usually people go back to their hometowns to spend some time with their family during this period.

We are now staying at generous Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto’s. They are great. They have two great sons and one of them went to the same university as me. I stayed at this house for about one year when I was in the university and since then, they’ve treated me like their son. I’m very happy to meet them again.

lots of airplane food and 13 hours later…

lots of airplane food and 13 hours later…

With all of my efforts spent trying not to sleep the night before, I spent most of the time sleeping on the long, long airplane flight. Harry Potter and Clash of the Titans were my two highlights of the flight, (as well as not having to sit next to Tsukasa).

After landing safely we got some cash, then cell phones just so we don’t lose each other, and then headed to Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto’s house.

Once we arrived there we were so tired that we unpacked, made some food, and fell asleep waiting for the rice to finish. After sleeping for what seemed like two days, we had a rehearsal and walked around exploring. After lots of shops and a humid, hot walk we came home and talked about the workshop with YTJ.

Mom and dad…I miss you a lot. James…yep. Anne and Greg…I miss you both as well. Thank you for letting us come here, I am in love with traveling and we are all learning so much just by being here and having this experience.

Why Japan?

Why Japan?

Interest in the Japanese Performing arts is growing in the United States. However it is still difficult for Japanese performing artists to get a foot in the door in North America. In hopes of fostering a U.S.—Japan performing arts exchange and bridging the gap between Japanese artists and American artists, our team composed of one dancer from The Juilliard School, one alumni musician from the North Carolina School of the Arts and one actor originally from Japan will travel to Japan for two weeks. Through teaching, sharing, experiencing and learning culture, The team strives to be a catalyst in creating an environment which cultivates a dynamic performing arts exchange in our ever-globalizing world. These environments will be "meeting places" where performing arts professionals of various capacities can forge relationships, exchanging ideas and information. We will share knowledge and expertise with each other as well as build a global network of Japanese and American performing artists.

Objectives

 • To increase awareness of the Japanese performing arts in the U.S., especially inside the major metropolitan area New York City.

 • To create collaborative works involving the information we will learn and share; with hopes to present these new works in New York City to various American artists and further the appreciation of Japanese culture.

 • To support collaboration and build a professional network between Japanese and American performing artists.

 • To foster an understanding of the American performing arts within various different venues in Japan, by providing collaborative workshops for audiences and artists.

 One of the Questions we must answer is "What do we do with what we have learned?" Upon returning from Japan will we go back to our lives, returning as if nothing changed? Or will we come back to New York City rejuvenated by the joys and struggles we found and overcame through our cultural exchange with Japan?