With research into the music and dance of Cambodia and Myanmar connected from Indochina, Cross Transit begins as a work in progress showing that will culminate in a performance prepared for three years, featuring artists from across Asia. Akiko Kitamura was deeply interested in how the music, dance, and belief systems of Indonesia and the surrounding region continued to live on in modern-day life and art. Using her four years of collaboration in Indonesia as a base, she began ten years of research in Cambodia, examining the similarities between Indonesia and other Asian countries that form the basis of the contemporary dance scene. With the Amrita Performing Arts Center as her focus, she met with local artists to research their creative process and unique qualities. The project was created and performed in Tokyo, at Sengawa Theater.
Achievements of FY 2019 https://grant-fellowship-db.asiawa.jpf.go.jp/en/grant/cc1926/
Achievements of FY 2017 https://grant-fellowship-db.asiawa.jpf.go.jp/en/grant/cc1715/
Related Project https://grant-fellowship-db.asiawa.jpf.go.jp/en/grant/cc1825/
- Related Countries
- Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, India
- Co-organizer(s), Cooperator(s)
- Amrita Performing Arts
From the Organizer
The final product benefitted greatly from the participation of Cambodian artists we met in the course of the research, who contributed to the creation process in Tokyo. A Cambodian photographer acted as dramaturge, and his words and photos imbue the work with a sense of Cambodia’s history. Having Japanese dancers well-versed in a variety of dance styles work together with practitioners of traditional Cambodian dance allowed the mingling of physical performers from two very different backgrounds, and served as an opportunity to expand the vocabulary of contemporary dance. The results of a creation process involving field research and residency in a foreign country were put on display at Sengawa Theater, and also led into the performance the following year at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre and Setagaya Public Theatre. Additionally, Our musical research in Cambodia and Manipur allowed us to construct a musical network, which We feel will allow for deeper collaboration with the musicians of the region in future projects.
