Voice of Session House 2023

Naoko Ito, who has continued to lead and choreograph for Mademoiselle Cinema, Session House's resident theater company since 1993, speaks about the feelings she has invested in these 30 years. Naoko Ito: “Thirty Years of Mademoiselle Cinema.” Looking back, it passed in the blink of an eye. While we were in the midst of it, these were 30 years of giving our all at every moment. In 1993, a group of women with a shared aspiration came together to launch the activity called “Mademoiselle Cinema.” Surely no one imagined that it would still be passed on 30 years later. At each moment...

Many dancers have taken part in Mademoiselle Cinema over its 30 years. Tamami Takenoshita, its longest-serving member, shares her thoughts. Mademoiselle Cinema and Me - On Its 30th Anniversary — Tamami Takenoshita. More than 20 years ago, after entering university and graduate school to study dance, I was struggling to work out how to create an environment where I could keep dancing after graduation. That was when I saw Mademoiselle Cinema, in which Tomoko Katsube (勝部知子), a senior from my university, was dancing. My first impressions of Mado's work were...

Branka Takahashi is a Serbian writer, photographer, and actor who has written scripts and appeared onstage. Currently staying in Frankfurt, Germany, she has contributed an essay about her feelings for Mado, which she still cannot forget. “Mado's World, the World's Mado” — Branka Takahashi. Thirty years already? Only thirty years? In the case of “Mademoiselle Cinema,” both are true. Looking at Mado, so youthful and always trying to stretch itself (to grow?), it seems strange that it is really a fully fledged...

In 2023, classical performing arts producer Toyoaki Onogi once again approached Mademoiselle Cinema, inviting the company to the grounds of Bishamonten in Kagurazaka and, in the autumn, making possible a joint performance with women gidayu musicians at Session House. He shares the thoughts behind this project. From Reproduction to Renewal @ Kagurazaka — Traditional performing arts producer / Koten Kukan, Toyoaki Onogi. On Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12, 2023, “Women Gidayu × Mademoiselle Cinema: Bridging with the Neighborhood, Kagu...

Mitsutake Kasai, who has continued performing onstage since 1998, speaks about his feelings as he explores what dance can be through trial and error. Looking Back on 25 Years of Continuing to Dance — Mitsutake Kasai, Director, Session House Planning Office, General Incorporated Association. The first time I was allowed to dance at Session House was in February 1998. At the time, I was looking for a small theater where I could give my own solo performance. It was a time when there was no internet, so I did all sorts of research using word of mouth and what people familiar with theaters told me, and went direct...

This is a report from coordinator Takahiro Mochizuki, who studies and analyzes how choreographers and audiences perceive works, including by holding “email reflection sessions” after performances in Dance Bridge, Dance Flower, Theater 21 Fes, and other programs. Report on Zoom Reflection Sessions — Takahiro Mochizuki. As a new initiative at last year's Dance Flower and other programs, we added not only “performances” but also “post-performance talks” (reflection sessions using Zoom with audiences and performers on the Wednesday evening after each performance; hereafter, Zoom reflection sessions). “Zoom reflec...

Moe Sugawa reports on her experiment, which involved four experimental performances exploring the physiological responses of dancers and audiences. What Boiling Mind Aimed to Do — Moe Sugawa, Keio University Graduate School of Media Design. The BoilingMind project began with research by Moe Sugawa (me), who divides her time between Keio University Graduate School of Media Design and Mademoiselle Cinema. BoilingMind visualizes the physical responses of audiences / dancers onstage and in the auditorium...

Taiju Matsumoto, who has taught dance classes at Session House for many years and has sometimes choreographed and danced works there, offers a passionate message to those who will continue learning and dancing. What I Learn While Teaching Classes — Taiju Matsumoto, Director, Session House Planning Office, General Incorporated Association. We can each work at a different pace; what we are particular about may change. What matters is trying to move toward something. It is all the more welcome if we can work in an environment surrounded by bodies concentrating in the same way...

In 2023, Garden on Session House's second floor once again provided a setting for self-produced and jointly produced / cooperative projects, as well as exhibitions in the rented space, talks, readings, theatrical performances, and croquis drawing sessions. A Record of Self-Produced and Joint / Cooperative Projects. January 11–15 — Two-Person Exhibition: Naoko Sakamoto (さかもと直子) and Sūzan Shibasaki (柴崎崇山). March 8–12 — 7th Wawawa Haiku Exhibition (T). March 22–April 10 — Suse Meyer (ツーゼ・マイヤー) Exhibition: “Spring Diary.” April 25–May 1 — Hyakka II 2023 (百花Ⅱ2023) (T). June 2...

A Record of the 2023 Dance Program. January 14. January 15. January 21. Theater 21 Fes vol.128① (1 performance). Theater 21 Fes vol.128② (1 performance). Theater 21 Fes Step Up vol.78 (2 performances). February 4. February 11, 12. “Dance Flower” (2 performances). Session House Young Dancer Support Project: Minori Sakai (坂井美乃里), G-ray, Izanami (伊邪那美), APINUN, and Yumi Okada (岡田結実) / Fuyu Sato (佐藤芙優) / Yuami Onishi (大西優亜美) were joined by...