We're hangin' there / See us on NHK TV!

Hello there, this is M.





The Thai dancers are getting used to the different culture, and seemed quite relaxed than 10 days ago when they first came.


So now I want to share with you the sunny faces and scenes during rehearsals, other than just dancing pictures. Here we go!






A lovely Aiiiiiiiiiii----------n (A famous joke by Ken Shimura, a comedian. Again, say that to any Japanese around you and I'm positive you'd make them laugh) by Dia :)

Oh, ho, whoa, what have we here?? I spy a little something going on! mmm, nice harem. Yes, it's a great team altogether, and we are all very close.

Our next issue is going to be interviews with the dancers, and our secrets to "Kokashita" to be revealed... (or maybe so) Don't miss it!

We had TV camera crews from NHK (Major television network of Japan) get a footage of our secret rehearsals. We are going to be on the morning program "Konichiwa 1to 6ken" (Although NHK is world wide, I'm afraid it's going to be a program only for the Kanto area of Japan) on the 27th from 11:05AM, so those of you living in the Kanto area, don't miss channel 1!!

The footage altogether is about the whole Festival/Tokyo, so our rehearsal may be on air for just a few seconds.

For those of you overseas, I will try to get some footage if possible, so just hang on there for just a moment please.

posted by M

Come Together! :)

Hello, this is M again.

The first rehearsal together in Tokyo was on the 16th, and it was the first day the dancers met each other again after the audition and workshop in Thai at the end of December 2008.


So, once they saw each other at the studio, they both sparkle with smiles and cries of joy!

(it was like a nice reunion party)


and the once cold and spacy studio turns into.... rush hour Tokyo.

This is "flex time week" (OK, I admit I picked a rather exaggerated picture)

Ok and it see how it becomes the Grand Central Station NY! (Although I think it's better than rush hour Tokyo.)The studio seems about three times smaller, and although it was really warm in Tokyo this day, it was definitely warmer than the weather inside the studio!


This is the waiting and watching area of the studio. You see them nice and relaxed now, but they are destined to dance and dance and dance in no minute!

You see the progress, the dancing, the great progress non-stop!

Dancing

Dancing

And more dancing

And more dancing!!!

Welcome and YOKOSO! Thai dancers!!!

Hello there, M again :)
This is the blog for Feb. 15th.
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Feb. 15th

Welcome! Wilkommen! and Yokoso! to Japan!

At last we get to greet the dancer members from Thailand today.

Yuko, the head production manager was so anxious to greet them at the airport, so worried about the Thai members...It turns out that we didn't need to worry at all. They all came safely together, and they were full of energy after their trip from Bankok.

It was very warm today in Tokyo, and the temperature was high as it usually is in April. Everyone is curious with questions and excitement.

"When will it get cold? How cold will it get? Will it be warmer? I can't wait for it to be cold!" Hold your horses everyone!

The weather report was saying that Tokyo is going to have a freeze from tomorrow, and I'm guessing that being cold might not be that appealing after a couple of days... but we'll see!
We just really hope that they don't catch a cold.

So, after we settle into the apartment that the Thai members are staying, I decide to join in with dinner at the diner right next to the apartment.
*Note that (of course) their usage of chopsticks are super PERFECT!

Although the "Diner" was a type serving typicalJapanese home cuisine, they naturally pick up whatever they like and make perfect Japanese meals.
(with just a little questions like, "What is this?" "What about this?" "How do I eat this?" "Yes, a small rice")

Picture time!!
That's the twin dancers, Egg and Out. Todays menu is fried fish and dumplings and miso soup.

Their smile just beams. Don't you think so?

Three wonderful smiles by Dia, Kero and Num.

Kero has been in Japan a couple of times, and he has been in shows like "Akaoni" by Noda Hideki, and "Indian Summer" for the Hirosaki Gekijo.

Last but not least, a great smile from Bubble.

His menu for today is grilled fish (he chose the bigger one) miso soup and Japanese mashed Yamaimo.

mmmm!

What was really surprising was that rice sprinkles called NORITAMA was an incredible hit for them!

(Rice sprinkles are a really popular home thing in Japan, think of it as butter, peanut butter, chocolate spread, whatever spread that you have with bread. It comes in many flavors and there are hundreds and thousands of kinds. Noritama is an especially popular Rice sprinkle. Ask any Japanese around you and they'll know)

Everyone sprinkles them on their bowl of rice and "Aroi Aroi!"

Wow, I'm not that big into Noritamas, but it sure looks good when they eat it with their pretty smiles.

I hope the Noritama power works for the first day of rehearsal tomorrow!!!

The incredible STRETCHes!!

Hey there, this is the blog for Feb 11th.
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Hello I'm N!
I was told from M to write today's blog. Nice to meet you!
I am also helping out "Kokashita" as one of the volunteer members!

Today I would like to introduce you the INCREDIBLE STRETCHES of the dancers.
Oh my, they are so flexible! really! It's really surprising!
They seem to do it so easily, that I started wondering that

hmmm... Maybe I can do it too!!
I, I think maybe human beings are ALL really flexible...

OK! Take that back and NO WAY!!! Look at her! flat as the floor!
180 degrees! 180?! (That's beautiful Mineko Saito)
Now I really understand that dance is based on the flexible body, and they can't do without it.

That's Tatsuya Nakamura... almost there!

and that's Ide-san. yay Mr. Choreograhper!

So, after the boot-camp stretches, again, lead by Ide, the choreograph is making solid progress.

Of course the flexibility lives and is used in the dance.

Today the dance is done parts by parts, but it's exciting to imagine what it would be like as a whole piece.

I am telling you, it looks like fun!!!

posted by N

Day3

Hello there, it's M again.
I am translating the blog for Feburary 10th.
Sorry for your inconvenience, because we launched the Japanese blog earlier, there is a little difference in time that we publish the English version.
We are expecting to catch up, so please hang on there!
So, here it is for Feb.10th.
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Feb 10th


We are still rehearsing only with the Japanese dancers today.
The company was in Thailad at the end of the year (until December 30th! wow) to spend time together, but the Thai dancers are coming to Tokyo on the 15th, so that's why we're rehearsing just with the Japanese dancers.

Can't wait to see them!

Of course a substantial amount of choreograph has been done in Bankok, but we are making quite a bit of progress here.

Today I have a volunteer staff member beside me, and she is being surprised by how fast the dancers can memorize the combinations!


The studio is really chilly today, but once the dancers start dancing, yes, sweatty T-shirts!
So here's one cool dance shot.


Oh don't you think that's a pretty cool shot! I'm starting to think I should take up my carreer in photography...NO, I know, just kidding, it's not me, but it's the dancer (this is pretty Ai Kaneko) that's cool. yeah, I knew it! (sniff) i) Historical treasure from ancient wallpaitings. Can be seen in South America.

Nope, wrong answer. Some how Ide and the dancers get the hidden meaning in this messege... hmmm. How about you?

Aww, a nice relaxed moment. (No, he's not dead)

Another relax sho... no, that's not a relax shot, that's pure hard daning baby!

Getting started with KOKASHITA!

Hello there, I'm M.

Welcome to the rehearsal documentary blog for "Kokashita"!

...So, what is this "Kokashita" anyways?

Here's your answer!; "Kokashita" is one of the dance performaces included as a part of the "Festival/Tokyo" which is to be held from Feburary to March, 2009.

It is a new piece choreograhped by Shigehiro ide, the leader of Idevian crew combining Japanese and Thai dancers!... Let me be honest...it's going to be pretty exciting!

Okay, want to know more?; Let me get you the official explanation of the show.

'Known for his originall and humorous dance works, the leader of Idevian Crew embarks on a collaboration project together with dancers from Thailand. Ide himself has taken the opportunity to go to Bankok, where he selected a number of dancers who are to perform together with the Japanese dancers at Festival/Tokyo. This special team will illustrate the cultural gap and differences between Tokyo and Bankok today.

"Kokashita" means "underneath the elevated railway/highway tracks" (I know, it's extremely long in English but only takes one word in Japanese!!)

There aren't such differences between the Kokashitas of Tokyo and Bankok, but the scenery underneath had a clear difference.

Ide's unique choreographs depicting cultural differences and small gaps will illustrate the contemporary situations of the two cities...

Want to know more about the Festival/Tokyo?

visit our website at http://festival-tokyo.jp/

Want to know more about Ide, Idevian Crew and his past works?

Visit their official website at http://www.idevian.com/ja/index.htm

Wait! Don't close this blog yet! You haven't written down the dates and theater!!

"Kokashita"Running schedules;

March 14th (Sat) 17:00

15th (Sun) 17:00

16th (Mon) 19:00 *Post performace talk with the dancers will be held after show

17th (Tue) 19:00

18th (Wed) no performace

19th (Thu) 19:00 *Post performance talk with Ide will be held after show

20th (Fri) 14:00

"Kokashita" will be performed at;

The Owlspot Theater http://www.owlspot.jp/access/index.html

Closest station is 'Higashi Ikebukuro' on the Tokyo metro Yurakucho line.

"Kokashita" ticket prices;
Adults: 4500yen

Student (please show us your student ID): 3000 yen

Students and chidren under 18: 1000 yen

Book your tickets now at festival-tokyo.jp/en

We will be waitin for you at the theater! Love from Tokyo!