Activity Report #11: “Danste Reporting

Interview with Chiho Yokoyama
(Interviewer: Kota Yamazaki)

Kota Yamazaki’s new project “Dance Teleportation,” based on the concept of “dialogue,” is underway.
Ms. Yamazaki and 11 performers are literally groping their way through the creative process under the new coronavirus epidemic.

Basically, a choreographer and a dancer create a work by sharing a place and time. Now that this is no longer possible, how can a choreographer establish a relationship with a dancer to create a work? We have named this challenge “Dance Teleportation” in the sense of exploring a way of dancing that transcends place and time.”
(Excerpted from Kota Yamazaki’s “Dance Teleportation” statement)

The creation process begins with Ms. Yamazaki interviewing each performer via video call. Next, Ms. Yamazaki sends the performers words inspired by the interviews. The performers then respond to Ms. Yamazaki by using the words as a starting point for their own creations.

In this issue, we present an interview with Chiho Yokoyama.
Through the screen, I could see his curiosity and energy, from his appearances in shows in Argentina to his willingness to actively absorb new ideas.
(Text and editing by Taku Yoshida)

standing form of “mountain” character

I was impressed by the Argentine dances you showed us at rehearsal. What kind of productions were you involved in?

side (transverse) mountain

I was part of a show called “FUERZABRUTA” (*1), which was born in Buenos Aires, and performed in Japan for a 10-month long run starting in August 2017, and in an international tour that went to Korea for 4 months last year. I had originally seen the show in New York and at the time I had no idea I would be performing in it.
I learned a lot from the work because the values and environment were different from the contemporary dance I usually do. I also spent a lot of time performing with South Americans, and I think I learned their energetic mindset of singing and dancing even outside of the performance.

(*1) “FUERZABRUTA”…The name of an interactive entertainment show and production company founded in Buenos Aires in 2003. In 2017, a Japan-inspired long-run performance of “FUERZA BRUTA WA!” was held in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

standing form of “mountain” character

Were you always interested in world dance?

side (transverse) mountain

My participation in “FUERZABRUTA” was the beginning of my interest.

standing form of “mountain” character

I see. I also think I need to know more about world dance, and I wonder what folk dance is in its original sense. I have been thinking about it.
When did you go to New York?

side (transverse) mountain

2014-2016. Someone I met at that time told me that there was an audition for “FUERZABRUTA” in Japan.

standing form of “mountain” character

Why did you choose New York?

side (transverse) mountain

I went there for only two weeks before staying for a longer period of time, and I sensed that I wanted to come back here. Part of it is that I have loved English since I was in elementary school.
In New York, I took street dance lessons and participated in projects such as breakin’ and house.

standing form of “mountain” character

What attracted you to street dance?

side (transverse) mountain

I was interested in dancing as a child when I saw Namie Amuro’s videos on TV, so I had always had a yearning for it. There was no place in my hometown where I could do that kind of dance, so I went to a ballet studio, but I remembered that I also liked glamorous shows. I had never danced before, so I wasn’t very good at it, but in New York, no one knew me, so I was relaxed and danced.

standing form of “mountain” character

Did the situation of the new coronavirus pandemic affect your work?

side (transverse) mountain

One of the big ones, related to the Olympics, was initially postponed but ended up flowing.
Also, many of you are currently taking online lessons, but I am not very active. I am now thinking about what to do in the future, and I am also considering becoming a stage interpreter and studying English. I’m spending my days feeling like I’m once again returning to myself as a human being, not as a dancer. Recently, though, I have been training to get back into the body of a dancer.

standing form of “mountain” character

Please let us know how you feel about this situation.

side (transverse) mountain

I have a lot of thoughts. In the past few years, as humanity has continued to live with development, I have felt that the earth would not last if things continued as they are. I take it as a sign that the earth is making mankind think, and that something like this has happened.

standing form of “mountain” character

Amazing! You know exactly what you’re talking about!

side (transverse) mountain

Recently I have been listening to speeches by various people online, and I heard an American elementary school girl say, “The time when adults are great is over. From now on, adults should listen to children’s senses and opinions.” I thought that was an interesting and true way of thinking.

standing form of “mountain” character

Adults are divided in their own fields, but children accept all of them, don’t they? I feel that removing boundaries in that way is necessary for me as well. I have to learn a lot.

side (transverse) mountain

Yes, I do. I feel that now is the time to think things through.

standing form of “mountain” character

I am spinning untranslatable words to send to you this time, and sometimes I wonder if this is like what children do. In other words, I feel that even if it doesn’t make up a sentence, that’s okay. You can read it and interpret it however you want.

side (transverse) mountain

In a situation where self-restraint is required and I spend so much time with myself, there is a part of me that is unsure of myself. I am interested in what you feel when you look at me objectively.

standing form of “mountain” character

In New York, I belonged to a rather downtown community and did experimental performances.

side (transverse) mountain

I regularly present performances and works at the studio in Tokyo where I take lessons. Also, in my hometown of Kanazawa, there is a competition set up by contemporary dance teachers, so once a year I would present a solo of my own work, although there were some years when I did not do so.
In the future, we may be able to experiment with new forms, not limited to stage performances, for example, dancers dancing in places like show windows.

standing form of “mountain” character

Since people cannot gather, we can try different methods. I have been working for the public, so I would like to direct this project toward the public as well.

side (transverse) mountain

It is interesting to see how we can reverse these situations and try new approaches.

standing form of “mountain” character

This is an experiment I do every time I do this interview to get words from you, but I would like to ask you to touch your chin with one finger and when you release it, what image comes to your mind instantly? I also look at the touch and look for words.

side (transverse) mountain

That’s interesting (and touches his finger to his chin).

standing form of “mountain” character

(I pen the scene.) I came up with images like “sunflower”, “road”, “the sun reflecting off the roof, the air is clear, and I am trying to remember something”, and “relaxed and soft”.
How about you, Yokoyama-san?

side (transverse) mountain

The first images that come to mind are “holes in the ground”, “tubes”, and “tunnels”. Others are “light green” and “leaves”.

standing form of “mountain” character

Thank you very much.
I am sorry to ask this, but can you tell me what you value in life? If you can answer, that’s fine.

side (transverse) mountain

For the past few years, I haven’t been able to find something like certainty in myself, and that has made me feel uncomfortable. But now I think that I am someone who keeps searching for it. Sometimes I find something that is at the core of me, and I try to do it, but sometimes I feel like it’s not quite right. There are times when I am unstable, times when I get into it, and times when I am done with it, but I think of myself as someone who searches for that kind of thing.

standing form of “mountain” character

I understand. In talking with you today, I got the impression that you have things firmly in perspective. Thank you very much. Please wait for me to spell out the words and I will send them to you.

side (transverse) mountain

It was fun for us too. Thank you very much.

How was the interview?
The next report will be an interview with Akane Kuri.
Please continue to enjoy the dialogue between the dancers.

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