The dance event “Blue Sky Dance” will be held on November 4th (Sat) and 5th (Sun) at the Art Square of Grand Mall Park. This event is a popular series and an important part of the “Yokohama Dance Collection” festival, which is celebrating its 29th iteration this year. Offering workshops for families, diverse dance performances, and open stages where anyone can participate, this event provides an opportunity to freely enjoy dance in an outdoor setting. Additionally, footage from the day’s activities is scheduled to be streamed online as part of Yokohama Dance Collection 2023, which will take place mainly at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1 starting from November 30th (Thu). *Note: This event is part of the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Minato Mirai 21 project, known as “MM Grass Park 2023.”
【MM Grass Park 2023】Aozora Dance at Grand Mall Park
The dance event “Aozora Dance” will be held at MM Grass Park 2023
- 11.04 [Sat] 12:00
- 11.05 [Sun] 12:00
＜PROGRAM＞
© Nishi Junnosuke *Event at Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA) in 2021
12:00- / 15:00- Namstrops presents “Posing Like a Grasshopper! ~Inspired by Aesop's Fable 'The Ant and the Grasshopper'~”
A world of physical expression unfolds, created by children and artists alike! Kids transformed into the popular character of the Grasshopper work together with “namstrops” to create an extraordinary fashion show. The photographers are the parents; every moment of the show is a photo opportunity. “Today, Grand Mall Park becomes the runway, and I am the model. Capture me beautifully!”*This is an interactive program for children. Pre-registration is available. Please check here for details on how to participat.
“Movers Platform” at Elefsina, Greece, in 2022
13:00- / 16:00- Umeda Hiroaki “Movers Platform Experiment 3”
Umeda Hiroaki’s “Movers Platform” series proposes new perspectives on dance that transcend genres. This unprecedented project focuses not on choreographed dance but on enjoying the unique movements of the movers (performers) through improvised performances. Experience the “body movements” of movers active across various genres in a wide open space.
13:30- Kanagawa University and Yokohama National University’s dance clubs and circles “Dance Showcase”
This dance stage is brought to you by Kanagawa University and Yokohama National University’s dance clubs and circles. Enjoy a wide variety of dance genre performances! 11.4: Kanagawa University’s cheerleading club, Kanagawa University’s K-POP dance team Mirae (11.4 only), Yokohama National University’s modern dance club 11.5: Kanagawa University’s cheerleading club, Kanagawa University’s Flamenco club LOS GATOS (11.5 only), Yokohama National University’s modern dance club
© Ohno Ryusuke *“Red Shoes” at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, in 2020
14:30- / 16:30- Kondo Ryohei & TEN-NEN DANCE KOBO “Let’s all dance together! Red Shoes”
Based on the beloved nursery rhyme, Red Shoes, with deep ties to Yokohama, was choreographed by Kondo Ryohei, the founder of ＜Condors＞. Red Shoes was created at the dance festival Dance Dance Dance @YOKOHAMA. Led by Kondo and the natural dance studio TEN-NEN DANCE KOBO, everyone, including the audience, will have fun moving their bodies. It’s okay if you’ve never danced before! No advance reservation required! Let’s all dance together and refresh both our bodies and minds!
- Date： 11.4 [Sat], 5 [Sun] 12:00-16:30 *This event will be canceled in case of rain.
- Venue： Art Square of Grand Mall Park (3 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama)
- Admission Fee： Free *Registrations are required to participate in the event.
- Performers： Namstrops, Movers (Otsuka Ikumi, Onishi Yuria, Sato Mayu, Shintani Souki, Suzuki Yu, Nakamura Takara, Nakamura Tomomi), Kanagawa University’s cheerleading club, Kanagawa University’s K-POP dance team Mirae (11.4 only), Kanagawa University’s Flamenco club LOS GATOS (11.5 only), Yokohama National University’s modern dance club, Kondo Ryohei (Founder of ＜Condors＞), TEN-NEN DANCE KOBO
- Organizer： Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1［Yokohama Arts Foundation］
- Contact： Aozora Dance yrbw_1＠yaf.or.jp
© Ryoichi Kojima
Namstrops
Formed in 2006, “Namstrops” is “sportsman” written in reverse. The team specializes in creative dance, with members having studied at the Miyazaki University Faculty of Education’s Dance Research Laboratory (completed their graduate studies). They were finalists in the Yokohama Dance Collection in 2008, 2011, and 2012, and have presented their works in 40 cities across 15 countries. Collaborating with contemporary art museums nationwide, they exhibit experimental artistic activities related to the philosophy of nurturing the body through physical education. In 2019, they opened a theater in Miyazaki City dedicated to their activities, and this June, they held the first “International Dance Festival in Miyazaki” after enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. They have authored the book “When we don’t compete, sports become art” (2021).
© Tamura Aya
Umeda Hiroaki
Choreographer, dancer, and visual artist from Tokyo. He began presenting works in 2000, and the piece he performed at the YDC 2002 “while going to a condition” received international acclaim. Since then, he has performed as well as created installations focusing on human physical senses in more than 150 cities throughout 40 countries, including France. Also involved in sound, video, and lighting design, Umeda’s work is highly acclaimed in the context of visual art for his methods of combining original movement and digital technology. In April 2022, Umeda became the first resident choreographer of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1, one of Japan’s leading dance centers, where he creates, performs, and promotes dance with new ideas.
Kanagawa University’s cheerleading club
We primarily support various sports teams as well as perform at events. As a team ourselves, we are fortunate to have enthusiastic new members with diverse personalities, and we cherish smiles and the cheerful spirit as we work hard to support lively atmospheres. As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we are looking forward to participating in many events and cheer activities, and we are even more committed to our regular practice sessions! This is our first time participating at YDC. We feel honored to spend a wonderful time with everyone through our cheerful and energetic performance, filled with smiles!
Kanagawa University’s K-POP dance team Mirae (11.4 only)
Hello! We are the K-POP dance circle “Mirae” from Kanagawa University. We enjoy dancing together as a team, with members ranging from novice to experienced. At the end of each semester, we upload our performances to YouTube, so please feel free to check them out! On a fun side-note, we proudly secured the 8th place in the “Inter-University K-POP Cover Dance Circle National Championship UNI♡KP” held at Zepp Shinjuku on September 12th. We have been steadily improving our skills, and we hope you’ll enjoy our performance for this event!
Kanagawa University’s Flamenco club LOS GATOS (11.5 only)
Kanagawa University Flamenco Club “Los Gatos” is currently based at the Minato Mirai campus in Yokohama. In addition to our regular performances and graduation shows, we have the opportunity to dance and interact with various universities thanks to our participation in the student flamenco federation FLESPON (FEDERACION FLAMENCA DE ESTUDIANTES JAPONESES). Though we may be a small group, we enjoy our activities under the guidance of wonderful teachers!
Yokohama National University's modern dance club
Our club focuses mostly on modern dance, contemporary dance, and creative dance. Every year, we actively participate in events such as the All Japan High School and University Dance Festival Kobe (AJDF Kobe) held in August, Artistic Movement in Toyama (ART.M), and other dance competitions. We also host our independent performances in March. This year’s independent performance is scheduled for March 3, 2024, at the Kamakura Performing Arts Center Small Hall. We look forward to your attendance!
Kondo Ryohei
Kondo Ryohei, the founder of ＜Condors＞, is a choreographer and dancer. He received the 67th Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize. ＜Condors＞ is a leading contemporary dance company in Japan acclaimed by The New York Times and has performed in over 30 countries worldwide. Kondo has also appeared on TBS’s “Jounetsu Tairiku,” NHK’s “Salaryman NEO,” and “Karada de Asobo,” and has choreographed and appeared in the opening of the NHK morning drama series “Teppan.” He serves as a part-time lecturer at Yokohama National University, Rikkyo University, and others. Kondo has received awards such as the Asahi Performing Arts Award’s Terayama Shuji Prize and the Yokohama Culture Award. In 2022, he became the artistic director of Sainokuni Saitama Arts Theater. He spent his early years in South America and is an avid dog lover.
TEN-NEN DANCE KOBO
Comprised of instructors and members from the Natural Dance Studio, led by Matsui Yukimi. Active primarily in Yokohama, they have participated in various events and performances choreographed by Matsui, including the Noge Jazz Bon and Hotch Potch openings. They have also been involved in DVD recorded projects and more. Among the members, some belong to professional dance companies, engage in teaching, independent productions, and have diverse careers in fields such as film, TV, and commercials. https://tennendancekobo.jimdofree.com/