Last week our Artistic Director and Principal, Christopher Moore, arrived in Japan after being invited to create a specially commissioned ballet performance to commemorate the 2011 Tsunami devastation.
The work brings together British and Japanese classical dancers and the ancient art of Japanese Noh (a traditional style of mime used to portray characters) featuring renown Noh actor Reijiro Tsumura and a new original score. Mr Moore workshopped some of the choreography on graduate students and company apprentice before heading to Japan where he created and staged the full piece, during an intensive rehearsal process. Before the premiere Mr Moore said,
‘This production was quite a challenge to blend two very different styles of movement with a very delicate subject matter, the new score was a huge inspiration and it has been a brilliant experience to work with dancers from two very different cultures’.
He continues,
‘Another highlight has been working with the students and staff of the Kesennuma Ballet Society, the students and their families rebuilt the ballet school after the building was crushed in the 2011 Tsunami, the disaster claimed the life of the society founder and senior staff’
He will continue to work with the group as they open the production in Kesennuma before touring to a selection of cities on the east coast of Japan prior to closing the tour in Tokyo next week. The premier performance was also featured on Japanese television!