On Monday I saw Christopher Fryman's gypsy/klezmer/cabaret band Bliki Circus play at Urbanguild. That show is a lot of fun! In addition to the band there was a pole dancer! And a fire dancer! And more music from the band! Unfortunately, I couldn't stay to see the final act but I enjoyed the show a lot and definitely want to see them play again! Here … [Read more...]
Bridget Scott’s Butoh Workshop #3
Our friend Bridget writes, On 24th July I will hold the third in my series of monthly butoh workshops at Ichijoji Shukaijo - an old dojo in Ichijoji. We will begin with a good warm up and then do some butoh image work, followed by pair work, some choreography and improvisation and finally a warm down. My workshop will be inspired by my work with my teachers Katsura … [Read more...]
Images from Schale Vol 8
Last Friday's eight installment of Schale at Urbanguild was a splendid night of vision, sound and music. In five collaborative multi-media acts, the various dancers, artists and musicians inspired each other into exploring the boundaries of their arts before a very appreciative audience. It was a packed house and not one of the acts disappointed! Christopher Fryman (trumpet, … [Read more...]
Bridget Scott, Christopher Fryman, Keiko Koi & More! @ Urbanguild this Friday
Our friend Bridget Scott is performing this Friday, June 17th at Urbanguild's Schale Vol. 8. Bridget says, This time I am collaborating with a textile artist Keiko Koi and a musician, Christopher Fryman. Keiko's work is a very delicate silk, hand crafted from silkworm cocoons. Christopher plays trumpet and does electronic sounds. Although we have both seen and heard each … [Read more...]
Butoh Workshops & Shiatsu Classes with Bridget Scott
Our friend Bridget Scott says, At last I am starting to teach my own monthly butoh workshop at Ichijoji Shukaijo - an old dojo in Ichijoji. In April I worked with Katsura Kan, who was the teacher who lead me into the butoh world in 1989. I also studied with Min Tanaka, and butoh greats: Kazuo Ohno and Yoshito Ohno. I feel as if I have come full circle after dancing with … [Read more...]
Sora ra ~ Dance Performance with Noh Flute & Djembe
On June 11th and 12th, Heidi Durning & Mori Mikayo, will be performing contemporary solo and duo dances with their own new choreographies. Music: Nonaka Kumiko (Noh flute) & TA-KEN (Djembe) Place: Eiun-in Temple Garden, in the Kurodani Temple complex, Kyoto. Click on the flyer below to view the map and click again to enlarge it. Dates & Time: June … [Read more...]
The Last JunKroom in Kyoto
There were two fundraisers I wanted to attend on Friday night; one at Tadg's and the other at Urbanguild. Unable to be in two places at once though, I paid a brief visit to Tadg's early in the evening, gobbled down one of his gorgeous vegan pizzas with a lovely Oatmeal Stout and made my donation to the worthy cause on my way out. I heard later that Tadg's event raised … [Read more...]
JunKroom Final Event April 22 @ UrBANGUILD!!!
Sean says... After producing and being involved in about 30 shows in the last 4 years or so... the JunKroom event in Kyoto finally comes to an end. I will be returning to England in the next few weeks after having lived in Kyoto for 5 years. Organizing and participating in these events has been an education for me and it’s helped me meet some of the most interesting … [Read more...]
Katsura Kan Buto Workshop & Performances
Dance is the original behavior of the body. Dance is before or beyond words. Dance is play with the human form. In this intensive workshop, Katsura Kan will share ideas about dance choreography through his "Matrix". This is not a butoh class or lesson. Instead, it is an opportunity to do cooperative research about a "strange object".....THE BODY. Our friend Bridget … [Read more...]
Images from the JunKroom Special Event
My apologies to all for the tardy posting of these images. I was trying to retrieve some footage I took on my i-phone but for technical reasons beyond my ken it appears to be GONE. I do however have a lot of photos and some video clips I took with my regular camera. Sean Roe deserves congratulations for organizing yet another very successful and enjoyable event. A lot of people … [Read more...]
JunKroom Special Event on 17th February
Sean says... JunKroom will be holding a special event on Thursday 17th February at Urbanguild on Kiyamachi Dori in central Kyoto. We are very honoured to have Alexander Rishaug, Espen Sommer Eide (Phonophani) and Sigbjorn Apeland, 3 great artists from Norway participate in this event as part of their Japanese tour. This will be their only appearance in Kyoto. In addition we … [Read more...]
Yugao & Carmen Alvarez
“Flamenco is a gypsy/Andalusian art with its own language, which is spreading throughout the whole world, from Andalusia to Japan, and reaching the depths of all hearts without discrimination.” - Carmen Alvarez Another fantastic show from Yugao at Parker House Roll last night, and it was made all the more special when their special surprise guest, Carmen Alvarez, joined … [Read more...]
Pictures from Ur食堂LIVE!
Just some pictures and three videos from Wednesday night at Urbanguild. There was a good and fun crowd of people there (free entry might have had something to do with that) and excellent performances from Mitsu Salmon, ryotaro, Nadia Porcar, trace elements and Dodo. Here are the pictures: And here are some horribly pixellated videos (that's why they are so small). Not … [Read more...]
Ur食堂LIVE!
"Ur食堂LIVE!", is a night of intimate performance and carefree entertainment in a casual restaurant atmosphere. The length of each performance depends on the artist, but rest assured there will be plenty of opportunity to eat, drink, and enjoy convivial discussion. Here are the details: Wednesday February 2nd (that's tomorrow folks!) 18:00 - 24:00 The … [Read more...]
