Okamoto, who chose contemporary dance as her artistic field after working in ballet, jazz, and street dance, has performed in works by various choreographers. As a dancer with a wide range of techniques, she has attracted attention as a choreographer, running her own dance company <TABATHA>.
The starting point for this new work is “OBEY to Supreme,” a solo performance created and presented in June of this year at the Centre National de Danse in Paris, where she stayed after being awarded the French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographer at the YDC 2019 Competition I. Okamoto says that during her first stay in Paris, she breathed the air of a free city, met people who unabashedly showed her their own way of life, and came face to face with herself once again, renewing her determination to live according to what is best for her.
Okamoto’s interest now is not limited to the expression of her favorite things and sensations, but to convey the dancer’s mind and inner spirit through the physical art of dance. We look forward to witnessing the young choreographer’s statement as she moves into a new phase of her career.
Okamoto Yu “OBEY to Supreme”Dance Cross
- 12.16 [Fri] 19:00
- 12.17 [Sat] 15:00
Okamoto Yu
Dancer and choreographer from Tokyo, Japan. Studied ballet from the age of 3, followed by jazz and street dance. After entering J. F. Oberlin University, she immersed herself in contemporary dance and began her career. As a dancer with versatile technique, she has performed in works choreographed by Kasai Akira, Kisanuki Kuniko, and Kondo Ryohei. Since 2011, she has led the dance company <TABATHA> which uses a rich choreographic vocabulary, stylish visuals and art, and a unique sense of humor and critique to turn the atmosphere of the current times into dance. She was a finalist for the Toyota Choreography Award 2012 and a double winner of the French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographer and the Sibiu International Theater Festival Prize at the Yokohama Dance Collection 2019. She is also active in the entertainment world, performing in the musical “Yuzuru” directed by Okada Toshiki, appearing in music videos such as “HELLO” by Official Hige Dandism, and choreographing commercials.