WRAP-UP: Shinichi Iova-Koga @ Om Center
Omaha has had the pleasure of hosting a major figure in the arena of modern dance. Shinichi Iova-Koga, a world renowned performer from San Francisco held an event at the Om Center in the Old Market this past Saturday evening as well as a workshop on the previous Friday (hosted by aetherplough in conjunction with the Omaha Modern Dance Collective) and Saturday morning. With the exception of the efforts of The Moving Company and other organizations practicing traditional dance forms, ætherplough is forging new territory with experimental and improvisational dance (in conjunction with musical accompaniment provided by April Faith-Slaker who, as it happened was the co-star). The collaboration began several years ago with a workshop produced by Shinichi Iova-Koga’s organization, inkBoat, which was attended by Thom Sibbitt and Susann Suprenant of ætherplough.
Modern dance is challenging and writing and speaking about it even more so. Getting away from the context of comparison to dance routine, performance art, vaudeville, acrobatics or the art of mime and towards a more pure understanding of the art of dance as a balance of breath, energy, and movement leading to a poetic abstraction of dance. Shinichi Iova-Koga comes from a family background of Judo and utilizes both the Tadashi Suzuki method for actors and the Butoh dance method pioneered in the 1960s.
The avant-garde performance included Iova-Koga, cellist Faith-Slaker and the space which the artist states “has its own signature or energy” and can act as a partner. Accompanied by a steady beat at times, the artist used the architectural elements of the wall’s molding to climb up into like a rock climber on the wall ledge. Serious at times by making his spine, arms and hands rigid, he then metamorphosed into a joyous controlled jump. He also wowed the after crowd by making his body jump on the floor using only his back muscles while in the fetal position, for lack of a better description. During the performance, he surprised the audience by asking Faith-Slaker to dance and also by tapping Suprenant on the shoulder, which integrated ætherplough into the performance. He also anachronistically asked for requests (“Stairway to Heaven?” ) and the audience remained silent. Later in a Q&A session, he let the audience of 50 or 60 onlookers know that the performance was entirely improvisational although when asked how long it took to prepare he responded, “all my life.” His answer to the question “What made you do this?” was, “Don’t think about it too much,” and that he gets information from his body, swayed by rhythm and “self-programming,” and that to analyze it would be on par with trying to analyze a dream. The artist’s awards are too numerous to count and his performances can be seen on Vimeo. A real treat for Omaha, his workshops were open to the public and you can get more information on how to attend an inkBoat workshop on their website, www.inkboat.com.
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PHOTOS provided by ætherplough and Sarah DaCorta
