Event

Fast Forward 2010

The Japanese Scene

Four shows that combine music, robotics, performance, dance and even heartbeats to create a unique soundtrack. Maywa Denki, Stringraphy Ensemble, Masako Yasumoto and Fuyuki Yamakawa are one example of the freshest, most innovative proposals to come out of the Japanese performing arts scene.

Programme: 

The Fast Forward mini-festival explores the freshest, most innovative proposals to come out of the world of the performing arts. This year, it turns its attention to Japan, the country that comes under the spotlight in the Panorama section.

Maywa Denki: Mechatronica

The shows of Maywa Denki represent true performance art, in which Nobumichi Tosa, “company president”, and his employees play music with the most surprising instruments, a series of wild, extravagant artefacts, each a unique and complete original artwork in itself. Dancing robots, instruments that play themselves and all manner of weird and wonderful gadgets.

Duration: 60 min
“Mechatronica”: the fabulous musical performance of Maykwa Denki

Stringraphy Ensemble: A Memory of Forest

If you were to apply to music the theory behind the telephones made by children out of paper cups and a piece of string, the result would be an instrument that is as simple as it is charming, capable of turning a huge hall into a kind of gigantic harp. Don’t miss the lovely dance produced as the musicians ply the strings, often as beautiful as the music itself.

Credits:
Director and composer Kazue Mizushima
Performers Kazue Mizushima, Motoko Shinohara, KIKU, Takayuki Saito, Saito Bunko
Producer Midori Yaegashi
Duration: 40 min

Masako Yasumoto

Magnetic, captivating and always innovative... That’s Masako Yasumoto, one of the most interesting names in contemporary Japanese dance. She hasn’t studied ballet or butoh; instead, she draws on her country’s popular culture to produce choreographies that are as personal and innovative as they are accessible.

Credits

Choreography and performance Masako Yasumoto
Lighting design Noriyuki Mori
Duration: 30 min

Fuyuki Yamakawa

A musical happening in which Yamakawa translates the beats of his heart into pulsating light, amplifies the sound or rhythmically beats his forehead to produce the soundtrack for his performances. Listen out for the vocal skills of this artist, a master of diplophonia: producing two sounds at the same time.

Duration: 20 min

 

FF1: Fuyuki Yamakawa + Masako Yasumoto  * + Stringraphy Ensemble

Foyer
8.00 and 11.15 p.m.
Duration: 1 h 25 mins

(*) This artist only performence at 8 p.m.

FF2: Maywa Denki
Pati de les Dones
9.45 p.m.
Duration: 1 h 15 mins