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?