Aosora Dance

Based on the theme ‘Connecting through dance from Yokohama!,’ the project initiated by Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1 (which has organized the international dance festival Yokohama Dance Collection for 25 years) aims to widely disseminate the appeal of dance and performing arts. A cast of 32 people, consisting of staff that work at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse as well as participants selected from an open call perform an original dance piece by Tsujimoto Tomohiko, who has been involved in a wide range of activities both within and outside Japan, including choreography for public broadcaster NHK’s original 2020 Olympics support song “Paprika.”

Formed in 2006, dance company Namstrops creates new value by thinking about things from a different angle. They have been invited to perform in 40 cities across 12 countries (including Estonia, Romania, Hong Kong, and Korea) to date. Within Japan, the company is bringing ‘physical education’ (the idea of nurturing the body) to art museums around the country, such as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and established a dedicated contemporary dance theater in Miyazaki in March 2019 (CandY Theater, described as ‘not publicly founded, but for everyone’).
Namstrops were Yokohama Dance Collection finalists in 2008, 2011, and 2012.

Kaeru – P is a dance unit led by Ozono Koji and Hashimoto Nori -yasu. Their theme is searching for the roots of dance. Kaeru P works around the clock to create works inspired by the idea that the body in dance should be grounded in everyday life. They received the 4th Elsur Foundation New Face Award for contemporary dance. Their principal works thus far include “The Sun” and “Su-Pa-Su-ha-.”

Matsui Yukimi heads TEN-NEN DANCE KOBO (TDK), which has a dedicated studio at JR Yamate station. The photograph shows the main members of TDK, dancers who were mentored by Matsui since childhood. Matsui is active in various events and performances, including choreography for the “Noge Jazz de Bon Odori.” All TDK members won prizes in the Yokohama Competition. At Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018, the members along with Matsui, assumed the role of ‘dance masters’ to promote “Red Shoes,” choreographed by Kondo Ryohei (who heads the CONDORS).

Mia Cabalfin and Rhosam Prudenciado Jr. are dance artists based in Manila, the Philippines. They made the decision to work together in 2012 in Kyoto Art Center as Artists-in-Residence. They are among a limited number of artists in contemporary dance in the Philippines to consciously create a body of work as a duo. Their art, which resonates with socio-psychological themes, has deviated from the traditional theater space, where they explore site-specific work, multimedia, and movement experimentation. They recently completed a residency program in Youkobo Art Space in Tokyo (June–August 2019), and were selected for the Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) Research Residency Program from January through March 2020.
Rhosam Prudenciado Jr. won the French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographer at Yokohama Dance Collection 2009.