Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2010

Photo by Tatsuyuki Mori (Momiage Flamenco)

Cutting-edge performance space Komaba Agora looks to beat the cold with some “extreme, hot energy” in the form of director Kunio Sugihara’s Winter Summit festival. Among the participating companies will be Tokyo dance-theater group Fujiyama Annette, whose novel performances begin with words and then gradually replace language with movement. Also represented are cities such as Aomori, whose Gekidan Nonoue offers regional tales in the local dialect, and Osaka, whose Totsugeki Kingyo serves up the “shameless presentation of female obsessions.” Most intriguing of all is Sugihara’s own dance performance workshop, Seishun 60s Demo, an attempt to create a “youthful piece with the powerful people in their 60s.”

Winter Summit 2009: Small Flaring Fire
Experimental piece written and directed by Takahiro Fujita, from theater company Mum and Gypsy. Feb 13-16, various times, ¥2,000 (adv)/¥2,200 (door). Komaba Agora Theater. Tel: Mum and Gypsy 090-9137-8647.