deep kyoto

Undoubtedly the best show I have seen at Urbanguild – or indeed in Kyoto, Resonance 2010 was an extraordinary collaborative display of pure gold shiny talent by the dancers, singers and musicians who took part. A big bravo to them all and to the organiser Daniel Rosen for creating this unforgettable event.  My only regret is that I didn’t go both nights and my only complaint is that I have to wait a whole year until the next one. Here are some images and videos of the event to give you a wee taste of the magic that we saw on Saturday night.

Here is taiko player Takahito Nishino – this builds up into something very special and super intense!!

A song by Mio Matsuda accompanied by Yasutaka Yorozu (bass), Takahito Nishino (taiko), Kaoru Watanabe (flute), ryotaro (accordion), and Tamango (dance).

Our old friends Mitsu Salmon and ryotaro do their thing with a little help from Kaoru Watanabe.

Dance from Tamango with the other Resonance cast members. This guy was amazing and later on treated us to a display of shoeless tap-dancing (yes! no shoes! but unfortunately I didn’t get that on video…).

Here are some pictures. Click on them for a closer look.

…a one-night multimedia celebration of sight and sound… …a stellar cast assembled for the sole purpose of creating new fusion and forms, this year’s Reflections promises to be a music/dance/art that defies definition and engenders new expressions…
RESONANCE 2010

First Ted Taylor sent me a link to this event and then I get this message from Mitsu Salmon:

This Saturday I am doing an event with a pretty awesome cast and if you have a chance could you spread the word? The former flutist of the group of Kodo is organizing and performing in this event as well as a tap dancer from New York.

Here’s the clincher though:

If people are interested they can email me their names and get a 1000 discount.

That’s it folks! Email Mitsu at footfootyourmom@gmail.com (or contact her on facebook) and get a 1000 yen discount on one of the biggest events in Kyoto this year! Alternatively contact organizer Daniel Rosen (email: yakimonos@earthlink.net) for the same bargain 2000 yen deal! Check out the list of artists here and tell me you aren’t tempted!

And while I was writing that (!) Daniel Rosen has written to tell me:

This show is an amazing mix of East and West performed by some really astounding talent that appeals to both Japanese and foreign audiences. Last year we brought down the house at UrBANGUILD, really!

Sounds good, eh? Here are some details:

Two shows! Friday 9/3 and Saturday 9/4
open … 19:00
start … 20:00
price … adv.3000円 / door 3500円 (plus drink)
place ... (the legendary) Urbanguild.
And don’t forget! 1000円 off the door price if you contact Mitsu or organizer Daniel Rosen (yakimonos@earthlink.net) in advance!

To find Urbanguild, from Sanjo Dori go down Kiyamachi Dori (this is the narrow street running alongside Takase stream) Urbanguild is on the east side (left hand side as you walk down from Sanjo) after approximately 150 metres. It’s on the 3rd floor of New Kyoto Building – access by elevator or stairs. Here is a map.

Our friend Mitsu Salmon has sent some details about the Living Arts event at Urbanguild this Wednesday (July 7th).

“Flamenco dancer Begona and guitarist Javier from Spain are visiting Japan to collaborate with the Butoh master Ima Tenko. They are doing a piece in memory of Kazuo Ohno`s passing.

Also in the evening is Chris Cobilis from Australia. Singer/songwriter Misa and ryotaro and I.

The order for the evening is the following with each artist playing about 30 minutes: Read the rest of this entry »

I managed to catch the tail-end of Mitsu and ryotaro’s performance at Urbanguild on Tuesday evening. Here it is:

I think ryotaro needs to come out of the dark and show us all his handsome face! Spotlight please! Mitsu and ryotaro will be performing next at The “Not A Word” Dinner Show on the 18th, and are also organizing another event (details to follow!) for the 7th of July, before Mitsu flits away for the summer to milder climes.

Mitsu says…

I am performing this Tuesday at Urbanguild. It is a special event or experiment because it is primarily music and in a restaurant setting, so people can come and go as they please anytime between 8 to 10 or so. But it is a FREE SHOW which is rare for me. I am also performing at Urbanguild 6/18 at Ben’s event, and on 7/7. Then I am traveling for all of July and August.

Date: Tuesday, 08 June 2010
Time: 20:00 – 22:30
Location: Urbanguild

To get to Urbanguild: from Sanjo Dori go down Kiyamachi Dori Urbanguild is on the east side (the left side as you walk from Sanjo) about 150 metres down. It’s on the 3rd floor of New Kyoto Building which you can access by elevator or stairs. Here is a map.
Tel: 075-212-1125

Some other up-and coming June events:
Saturday June 12th – Poetry & Discussion with Takako Arai & Jeffrey Angles at Campus Plaza.
Also on June 12th – The official Relaunch Party of  Tadg’s Irish Pub.
Friday June 18th – The “Not a Word” Dinner Show

While I was away the glorious Mitsu Salmon wrote to tell me about a couple of events she has coming up:

The Peacock Boat
By Ima Tenko and Kiraza
March 20 and 21 at 7pm
March 21 and 22 at 3pm

The piece draws from the symbols of the peacock as a powerful creature able to overcome obstacles and the boat as the means to hope. These images are metaphors for lives of the geisha, who once inhabited the walls as well as we the audience.

The Peacock Boat includes live shamisen, costumes reconstructed from old kimonos and dresses and original choreography.

The performance will take place in the traditional theater house (tatami mat seating)
Gojo Rokuen Kaburenjo

Admission ¥ 2,500 (¥ 2, 800 on the door) ¥ 2,000 students (¥ 2,300 on the door)
090 9708 9768 (English)
ima_kiraza@yahoo.co.jp

Map and directions
http://www.peacockboat.blogspot.com/

International Love Cabaret V. 6
Wednesday March 31st, 2010

www.lovecabaret.blogspot.com
Urbanguild, Kyoto

Tom Hall（from Australia)
Live sound and video performance

Mitsu Salmon & ryotaro
Voice, dance and midi-accordion with synthesizer

Sseeaann Rrooee and Misuzu
Music/sound installation and dance

Ｓarry
Music ambient

Door opens: 6:30pm
Show starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: 1800 yen with 1 drink (in advance)  2300 yen with 1 drink (on the door)
http://www.urbanguild.net/
Tel/fax: 075-212-1125

Urbanguild is on Kiyamachi between Sanjo and Shijo. Look for the sign outside. Walking from Sanjo it is on the left side about 150 meters down. It is on the 3rd floor.

Thanks Mitsu!

Sean Roe invited me out to this place ages ago. “￥380 a beer,” he said. Very hard to resist. So I went. And here’s what I found:

Kanso is a bar, and an art installation combined. Its concept can be roughly summarized as

drink x cans = fun

The art here is nothing precious,  consisting as it does of cans. Big cans that you sit at like tables and walls of cans to dazzle your eye. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are some pictures and a video from Sunday night’s International Love Cabaret. Unfortunately, I had to leave early and only saw half of the acts. Here however, are some arresting images from Sanae Kuroko’s dance.

And here is a rather grainy video of Mitsu Salmon (who you can mostly see) and ryotaro (who you mostly can’t see) – and not the whole performance mind you, but just a few raw cuts of “sushi” – to give you a small and savoury idea of what they are about. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time again to let down your borders and share in the love!

Mitsu Salmon wrote to say that the next (and eagerly awaited) installment of her ongoing magical, musical, dance-tastic extravaganza, International Love Cabaret, will be held at Urbanguild on Sunday January 17th.

In  her own words I.L.C. is… Read the rest of this entry »