・ Six months’ study in France

“I could only be at the festival for two days, and I realized that my style is very different from the others’. I didn’t think I’d fully expressed myself. But I am delighted to have won this prize; that’s why I entered the competition, after all. It makes me very happy to be recognized in the contemporary dance arena, having started out in Hip Hop; this achievement has made many persons’ wishes come true. I myself am based in Hip Hop, and I’d like to see people in contemporary dance do Hip Hop and, through cross fertilization, really enliven the dance scene. Taking this as my start, I hope to devote myself to bring even better dance experiences to audiences. I’d also like to thank, above all, my family, friends, and team” — KENTARO!!

・ Right to an independent performance at Yokohama Red Brick 

   Warehouse No. 1

・ Right to perform at all future Yokohama Dance Collection R

・ Right to perform at all future Yokohama Dance Collection R

・ Right to perform at all future Yokohama Dance Collection R

Christine Merli
Title: “XYZ”

In her career as dancer/performer, Christine Merli travels through European landscapes and further horizons. Her parallel career as a choreographer for Compagnie Camille M. has developed for a decade, creating strong relationships through choreographic and educational encounters.

Guillaume Lauruol
Title: “SCAPE”

After working as a performer with several choreographers in France, touring France and Europe, Lauruol founded his own company, dezeo ito, in 2005. The name means “desire,” desire to engage in building imaginary worlds, researching an area spanning dance, the circus, sound design, and video art. “Scape” is the first piece he created in La Chaufferie (P. Decouflé’s base); with it, he has toured Europe and Brazil. He is now working on a new project, “SousLesPneusLaPlagE,” which won an award at the Monaco Dance Forum 2006 and has been selected in the call for entries of the Bains Numériques 2007 international festival of media art.

Heli Meklin
Title: “Untitled”

A 2006 graduate of the Theatre Academy of Finland, Heli Meklin has also studied at the NSCD (UK) and CCDC (Hong Kong). Now based in Helsinki, she also works elsewhere in Europe. Her work investigates identities, phenomena, people, society, and art, often through the filter of surreal humor. Elements of performance art and exploration of perceptions of the body are also integral parts of her work. She has worked as a choreographer, dancer, and performer with various artists, most recently Michael Laub (B/NL) in Berlin.

Jeon Hyauk Jin
Title: “accustom oneself”

Jeon graduated from Hanyang University, having majored in contemporary dance. A gold medalist in the Dong-A Competition, he was exempted from military service and directed the Ground Zero Project 2006.

KENTARO!! 
Title: “Don’t cry, wait in Tokyo”
(The French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographers)

Has been dancing for fourteen years, beginning by learning street dance in junior high school. At the age of 19, he formed the dance team Lockin' On. Four years later, he relaunched himself as Solo Dancer Kentaro!! Deeply influenced by contemporary dance, he frequently dances as part of theatrical productions. His aim, structured around improvisation, is to incorporate the technique and spirit of Hip Hop into contemporary dance. He has been named dancer in residence at Session House for fiscal 2007. He has performed in Off nibroll, odorini-ikuze, and Tokyo Competition #2. He won the Koike Hiroshi Prize.
http://www.kentarock.com

Masaharu Imazu
Title: “Under the table, Under the knees, Under the floor…”

Studied pantomime and contemporary dance with Honda Shigeharu, Enogami Yoichi, and Kisanuki Kuniko. Has performed both overseas and in Japan with néo and Condors. Has also performed in works by Shimasaki Toru and Kanamori Jo and performed solo as well as in numerous famous choreographers' works. Constantly in search of a global perspective of his own, he spent 2005 studying in Canada on a scholarship from the Agency for Culture Affairs. His duet performance with Louise Lecavalier has been widely acclaimed worldwide.

Megumi Suka
Title: “Solo”

Born in 1981. Has performed with Kurosawa Mika & Dancers since 1999. In 2002, she performed her solo "Suddenly Running Through a Field of Flowers" at Lab20 #13, which was curated by Yamazaki Kota. In 2004 she graduated from the Dance Division of the Japan Women's College of Physical Education. That same year she formed the all-female company hyperventilating virgins Pink with Isojima Miki and Kato Wakana; it has performed overseas as well as in Japan. In 2007, she is performing her solo work “Solo” for the first time in five years. She says that her motto is to "Surprise myself by dancing unpredictably, always with total freedom, right to the edge of danger."

Miki Hoei
Title: “Line”
(Jury Prize / MASDANZA Prize)

Born in Ishikawa Prefecture and began dancing modern ballet while still a toddler. Is scheduled to graduate in March 2008 from the Dance Program in Physical Education Faculty of the Japan Women's College of Physical Education. She performed in the Eastern Europe tour of the dance company Nomade~s and has appeared with the Ohashi Kakuya & Dancers in "Clarity Is only a Single Point" and "CLOSURES" Her numerous other performances include "Labyrinth Cream" choreographed by Takano Miwa and "Time Gallops" choreographed by Baba Hikari.

Park Eun Young
Title: “The Walking Fish”
(Jury Prize)

A graduate of the department of arts, Hanyang University, with a major in Modern Dance, Park won the Gold Award in the 25th National University Concours (2005). She was a semifinalist in the 5th Japan International Ballet & Modern Dance Competition (Nagoya) in 2005 and won third place in the 2006 Seoul International Dance Competition (a year no first prize was awarded).

Asako Shirai
Title: “Get out”

She is totally committed to dance, a passion that began in her junior high and high school dance clubs and carried through the dance education department of Ochanomizu University. In 2003, she was awarded the Agency for Cultural Affairs’s New Artist Overseas Study Grant and spent two years in the U.K. She treats her body as her medium and is always pushing her limits. Recent work includes the choreography for the ballet collaboration "Two Humans" with Tiara 140+. Besides choreography and stage direction for KAPPA-TE, she has appeared in "The Maiden's Work," choreographed by Yamazaki Kota, and "Outre," choreographed by Darren Johnston.

Ayumu Yamada
Title: “"Marble/marvel"- from “The Nutcracker”-”

Born in Ashikaga City in Tochigi Prefecture in 1982. Graduated from the Faculty of Plastic Arts of the Art and Design School Faculty of Tsukuba University in 2006. He is now pursuing a master's degree from that university. During his university years, he became interested in the use of the body as a medium for creative expression and since 2004 has been presenting performance pieces using masks and the body. He continues to explore the worlds of dance and contemporary art searching for what he calls "the invisible body." Since 2007 he has been a member of Ohashi Kakuya & Dancers.

Kou Kawasaki
Title: “latent”

Born in 1972. Started street dancing at the age of 14. Appeared in a still legendary Dance Koshien national dance contest. Through a long series of contests and short engagements, he has consistently aimed at a fusion of street spirit and performance, in the form of street contemporary dance. Having been a street and dance instructor, he chose a select few from his “family” of over a thousand students From the huge number of students for whom has been an instructor he chose a select view with truly radical approaches to dance to form the CAKRA DANCE COMPANY.

Park Hong Ki
Title: “Ice or Water”
(The Yokohama Prize for a Brilliant Future)

A graduate of Kyungsung University
Performed with the Master Jakkie-Ttapanel dance company of Montpellier and the Paris Harmonic (August, 1998)
Took part in the Emio Greco/PC workshop of ModaFe in 2003, the 7th Competition of New Generation Choreographers, the Compagnie Philippe Saire (Lausanne, January, 2007)
Grand Prix (prize for acting), December, 2006
16th Daegu Dance Competition Prize for Acting (June, 2006)
Member of the Daegu City Modern Dance Company since January, 2003

Park Young Jun
Title: “Dreaming Bodies”
(Jury Prize)

Born in South Korea in 1977, Park Young Jung graduated from Korea National University of Arts with a major in dance (MFA). He is particularly interested in Korean traditional ki (chi), martial arts, and tai chi. He has worked on collaborative projects with filmmakers and visual artists. He has established his own dance company, the Oh My Life Movement Theater, in Seoul and has performed with it both in Korea and internationally.

Ruri Mitou
Title: “Black Rose”

Started at age five to learn modern ballet with Kanai Momoe and Kanazawa Miho. Since 2004 she has performed many times both in Japan and overseas with Kitamura Akiko's Leni-Basso dance company. Her principal works include "Finks," which has been performed more than 60 times, and "Ghostly Round," currently being performed overseas. She is also a dance school instructor and has led many dance circle workshops at universities. In 2007, she formed Japonica-ponica.

Takaｆumi Kodama
Title: “Poster of a Lizard with Golden Feathers #4”

Currently a member of the Education Research Faculty at Miyazaki University. Leader of the Dancing Sportsmen dance group directed by Assistant Professor Takahashi Rumiko. His creative activities are focused on "invading dance with sport." His athletic specialities are baseball and badminton. In October of 2006 he formed the unit Nmatsu-Posse and performed in “Odorini-ikuze!” Vol. 7 in Fukuoka. That November he won honorable mention in the creative division of the Yokohama Dance Competition. In July 2007, he was selected to appear at Kyoto Dance Production 2007.