Concurrent Sequence 6

1 is here

Days 6-11

They started focusing on the movements as a group as well as each dancer’s individual movements. Hiroaki also started doing some tests of choreographic system.

Two creation periods

In Hiroaki’s creations, there are normally 2 separate creation periods. The first one is for movement research for each dancer and choreography tests. After movement research, Hiroaki often tries several choreographic systems to look for the best ones that suit the concept of the work and the dancers. It is a period for him to try some different options and to prepare for the second creation period. At the same time, I also see it as a period for the dancers to understand and digest the process of his creation and the way he thinks. When the dancers and Hiroaki see each other again after a while, they often understand each other better which makes me feel that it’s very important to have these 2 separate periods.

Tasks given for a group

The dancers were asked to move according to a certain rule (keyword) of relations. Hiroaki tried the same tasks for both Taiwanese and Japanese dancers, but the best keywords for each group were slightly different. A word that worked for one group didn’t always work in the other. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the differences in each dancer’s character or culture or something else, but either way it was intriguing to see those differences that came out of the relations among humans.

Seeing each dancer’s movement research was already very interesting. However when the relations/movements as a group were added on it, it was as if some special layers or different perspectives were added for the audience, and the space suddenly looked and felt a lot more dynamic.

The end of the first creation period

On Days 6-11, Hiroaki tried the actual scenes of the new work as well as choreographic systems, and he also asked the dancers to think about how to perform (including the use of time on stage etc). I could really see that the end of the first creation period was almost there which also meant that they were getting ready for the second creation period.

The 2-week rehearsal ended. Next time, we will see each other physically together in a studio in Taichung. Since Taiwanese dancers and Japanese dancers were doing rehearsals separately, I was trying to imagine what kind of feelings they would get when they physically meet each other for the first time. It might be some nerve-racking moment but it might be exciting at the same time… I (who don’t perform on stage!) am personally very excited and looking forward to the rehearsals in Taichung.

Special Thanks!

By the way this project, particularly the rehearsals in December, was hugely supported by 小事製作 Les Petites Choses Production and 思劇場 Thinkers' Theatre in Taipei. Thank you very much from us Hiroaki Umeda team!

(This is from the very first rehearsal with Taiwanese dancers when they were focusing on each dancer's movement research)