To feel the dance

SHE was a gymnast and then ballet and butoh dancer. Today, Un Yamada is known for using art and even literature and the varied bodies of people with no dance experience as resources for creating dance that is rich in context.

Well-known to Malaysia and its arts circle since presenting in 2012, Yamada will showcase a Malaysian and Japanese ensemble of dancers to perform a localised version of

“There are 11 Malaysians and five Japanese performers in the show. We found so many talented performers in the audition and wanted to invite them all! However, we have selected a cast of nine new Malaysians to join the project.”

According to the production notes, the show was first performed by Yamada’s company in 2012 in Japan, with the idea taken from Shugoro Yamamoto’s literary work In fact, 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the writer’s death.

The literature was also made into a movie, by Akira Kurosawa, in 1970. Getting inspiration from both the novel and the movie, Yamada has established an energetic dance with theatrical elements, using Beethoven’s

effectively into

She has always been impressed by the fresh energy of Malaysian dancers, which in turn has helped her rediscover the core of choreography.

But although she has staged a Malaysian version of last year, featuring male dancers after auditions, Yamada says: “To form a bridge between Japanese and Malaysian members is the hardest part of staging the show here.

“I love them both, I respect them and can understand both opinions. I believe that once the bridge has been built, it’s easy to cross. However, the process of building a bridge would be an acrobatic act, and is the most difficult thing to do at the moment.”

Yamada has also earned a reputation for artistic excellence as a solo dancer and a pioneer of community dance for various demographics. In 2014, she was designated the Japan Cultural Envoy for East Asia.

On what she likes most about the dance scene in Malaysia, she says: “The Malaysian dance scene is full of variety. But what I see is that there are good possibilities, due to their traditional dance backgrounds with Western influences and the dancers’ good

Un Yamada. An earlier staging of People Without Seasons.

chemistry with each other.”

For this adventurous choreographer,

is a mixed cast project of Malaysian and Japanese participants.

“They have different backgrounds, culture and are from different generations. I consider these as the most exciting elements, since I have been longing to have such diverse performers in this production from the very beginning

“If the audience can feel something deeply with their heart, rather than understanding the meaning of the performance itself, I would be extremely grateful.”

Catch and

jointly organised by Co. Un Yamada, The Japan Foundation Asia Centre, Aswara and MyDance Alliance on Jan 30-31 (8.30pm) at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPaC). Tickets are RM43 (general) and RM23 (seniors, disabled, TAS Cardholders).

Also watch from Oct 20-21 (8.30pm) and Oct 22 (3pm) at KLPaC as well.

Tickets are RM55 and RM28 (student, senior citizen, disabled, JFKL member and TAS card member (only applicable to KLPaC walk-ins with valid ID).

Call 03-4047 9000 (KLPaC box office) or 03-7880 7999 (TicketPro hotline).