Kokoro Dance

Kokoro Dance
Name	Kokoro Dance
Founded	1980s
Genre	Butoh, contemporary dance
Location	Vancouver, British Columbia

Kokoro Dance is a Canadian dance company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, known for performances rooted in Butoh and contemporary dance practice. The company has engaged with a wide range of international festivals, cultural institutions, and educational partners across Canada, Japan, the United States, and Europe. Its work intersects with collaborative projects involving choreographers, visual artists, composers, and academic programs.

History

The company emerged during a period of cross-cultural exchange among performing arts organizations such as Canada Council for the Arts, Canada-based ensembles, and visiting artists from Tokyo and other Japanese centers where figures like Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno had established Butoh practice. Early activities involved residencies and workshops linked to venues such as Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and festivals including Vancouver International Dance Festival and touring circuits connected to presenters like On the Boards and Hebbel am Ufer. Over time the company navigated funding landscapes shaped by agencies such as British Columbia Arts Council and national touring networks like Dancing on the Edge. Its timeline reflects broader shifts in performing arts infrastructure exemplified by institutions like Canada Dance Festival and policy debates in Canadian Heritage.

Artistic Style and Repertoire

The repertory blends idioms associated with Butoh founders and innovators along with influences from western experimental choreographers such as Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, and contemporary makers linked to companies like Pilobolus, DV8 Physical Theatre, and Martha Graham Dance Company. Works often reference collaborative scores by composers in the lineage of John Cage, Philip Glass, and Ryuichi Sakamoto, and feature scenography practices in dialogue with visual artists affiliated with galleries such as Vancouver Art Gallery and institutions like National Theatre and Sadler's Wells. The company’s aesthetic situates it among international peers who tour to venues like Judson Memorial Church, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Festival d'Avignon, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Founding Members and Leadership

Founding figures were practitioners trained in environments connected to schools and mentors in Tokyo and Vancouver as well as international workshops led by artists from France, Germany, and the United States. Leadership has interfaced with arts managers conversant with organizations such as Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and presenting houses like Arts Club Theatre Company and Tarragon Theatre. Artistic directors and choreographers have maintained professional relationships with producers who have worked with ensembles like Dancemakers, Kaeja d'Dance, and academic collaborators from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and Capilano University.

Training and Education

Training initiatives have linked to studios and programs at Simon Fraser University School for the Contemporary Arts, University of British Columbia Department of Theatre and Film, and private studios influenced by teachers who studied under Japanese masters and western contemporary mentors such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater affiliates. Educational outreach has included workshops for students at institutions like Vancouver Community College and exchanges with organizations such as Japan Foundation and cultural attachments to consulates and cultural centers like Japan Society.

Performances and Tours

Touring history includes appearances at festivals and theatres across Canada, United States, Japan, and Europe, engaging presenters similar to Tourisme Montréal, On the Boards, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Sadler's Wells, The Barbican Centre, and regional festivals such as Vancouver Fringe Festival and Fringe Festival Edinburgh. Performances have been staged in traditional venues, alternative spaces, and international biennales alongside companies invited by festivals like Festival TransAmériques, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and university series at Harvard University and Yale University.

Collaborations and Community Engagement

Collaborative projects have connected the company with composers, visual artists, filmmakers, and cultural organizations including partnerships with entities akin to National Film Board of Canada, community arts programs supported by municipal authorities like City of Vancouver, and intercultural exchanges facilitated by groups such as Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop and the Japan Foundation. Community engagement has included school residencies, public workshops, and participatory events in collaboration with community centres and social service agencies similar to Vancouver Chinatown revitalization initiatives and arts-health partnerships found in hospitals like Vancouver General Hospital.

Awards and Recognition

Recognition has come through eligibility for prizes and awards administered by bodies such as Canada Council for the Arts grants, provincial awards from BC Arts Council, nominations to festivals like Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and invitations to international festivals including Festival d'Avignon and Edinburgh International Festival. The company’s contributions have been cited in program notes, critical reviews in outlets associated with institutions like The Globe and Mail, National Post, and cultural commentary published by organizations such as Canadian Stage and academic conferences at Canadian Association for Theatre Research.

Category:Canadian dance companies Category:Butoh