Can’t-Sleeper
I wanted to create a dance that I could recall and be comforted by before going to sleep or could be a comforting respite for sleepless nights. We live in an age where it is said that one out of every five Japanese people suffers from some form of insomnia. The source of this creation was a fantasy I had while lying in bed, when I myself was suffering from insomnia, that this night would be more enjoyable if a fairy danced in front of my eyes. The stillness of the night, the ceaseless fantasies, the message someone gave me saying, "Drink some warm milk, and you'll be able to fall asleep." The hot milk did not make me sleepy, but I remember its warmth calming the long nights. If you cannot sleep anyway, you might as well dance a dance that can only be done at night with one hand around a cup of warm milk.
Mariko Kakizaki
“Even an extremely painful insomnia can be surprisingly simple when you unravel its causes. It would be nice, if we could look at ourselves objectively and find the cause, but this is quite difficult. We urge such individuals to consider the option of visiting a doctor. There are now clinics specializing in insomnia treatment as well. The important thing is not carrying it all alone.”
Psychiatric Counselor, Yoshitaka Sakata (From an interview during the creative process)
Direction/Choreography/Performance: Mariko Kakizaki
Choreography/Performance: Alice Godfrey (Performed in Aichi and Takasaki)
Choreography Assistance/Performance: Akane Kuri (Performed in Tokyo)
Music: Koki Nakano etc.
Costume: Chika Kisada
Visual Photography: Yuichiro Noda
Adviser: Haruto Niwa (Dance Base Yokohama)
Research Cooperation: Yoshitaka Sakata, Sleeping Life Murata
Produced by: Eri Karatsu (Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater/Dance Base Yokohama)
Production Manager: Yoshinori Sekoguchi (Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater)
Stage Director: Takashi Kawachi
Light Design: Masakazu Ito (RYU)
Sound Design: Norimasa Ushikawa
Premiere: September 2023 (Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater) *Part of “Triple Bill – Écriture Before Awakening”
Planning and Co-Production: Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater, Dance Base Yokohama
Production: Dance Base Yokohama
©︎Yulia Skogoreva
©︎Yulia Skogoreva
◆PERFORMANCE
2023 Performing Arts Selection 2023
・September Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater, Mini Theater（Aichi）Triple Bill – Écriture Before Awakening *Premiere
・September Takasaki City Theatre, Studio Theatre（Gunma）
・October Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Theatre East（Tokyo）Tokyo Festival 2023 Directly managed programs FT label
◆INTERVIEW
Mariko Kakizaki & Eri Karatsu Talk vol.1 Can't-Sleeper, a new work that approaches the theme of "insomnia."
Mariko Kakizaki & Eri Karatsu Talk vol.2 A work to accompany sleepless nights
