Learn noh chant & dance from master actor Yamai Tsunao 

Master Komparu School noh actor Yamai Tsunao will be in Vancouver teaching a special workshop in noh chant (utai) and dance (shimai) from March 8-12. 

Participants will learn the basic stance and gestures of noh, and work on short selections of two plays. Limited to 24 participants. MORE INFO...

March 8-12, 6-9pm
SFU's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings) - World Art Centre
$150 (plus GST)
To register call 604.607.5978 or email: [email protected]

There will be a free public showing 
on Thursday March 12 at 7pm - ALL ARE WELCOME!
 
Presented by: TomoeArts & SFU Woodwards Cultural Programs

Saturday, April 12 - 7pm
The Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts 
149 West Hastings Street


Tickets $29 & $19 
(students/seniors/group of 10+) available through Tickets Tonight online or at 604.684.2787

As part of the 125th Anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver, the Consulate and TomoeArts, in cooperation with the Komparu School of Noh, will present a full performance of the Japanese noh drama Hagoromo (The Feathered Robe). Internationally acclaimed noh actor YAMAI Tsunao, who presented workshops and collaborative performances here in Vancouver in 2012 and 2013, will this time be leading a troupe of 11 performers and musicians from Japan to present a full-scale performance of Hagoromo in full-costume and with full musical accompaniment and chorus.

This one is not to be missed!

Salon Series 2013/14: Elements of Kabuki Dance 
Sunday, November 10  at  3:00-4:30pm
Scotiabank Dance Centre - Board Room - 6F
677 Davie Street 

Starting this fall, TomoeArts will be hosting quarterly gatherings focused on themes, topics and issues connected to Japanese dance and performing arts. There will be presentations, discussions and demonstrations, featuring members of the TomoeArts community and special guests. 

November 10 will be the first instalment of the series and will feature TomoeArts' Artistic Director Colleen Lanki (Fujima Sayu), who will talk about the story of Yamanba, the Mountain Crone, a popular character in Japanese performing arts. We will have a chance to look at the character as presented in noh theatre, and also how she is depicted in kabuki and nihon buyoh. 

There will be refreshments and admission is by donation. 

We hope you will join us! 

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and promises to be a full month of Asia-related cultural events. I'll be featuring a number of Japanese cultural events here and on Facebook, so keep an eye out for more upcoming events. 

On May 11, the Consulate General of Vancouver is presenting Noh actor Yamai Tsunao of the Konparu School of Noh. Yamai-san came to Vancouver last year and offered a very informative program about the music, movement, and costumes of Noh. The highlight of the night was perhaps the end of the program, when he invited the audience to join him and his troupe on the stage to try their hands at the instruments, touch the costumes, try on the masks, and speak informally with the performers.

This year's program will follow a similar format (although I don't know to what extent the audience will be able to participate hands-on this time). I will be assisting with the program as M.C./interpreter again for this year's show, so I hope to see you there! 

The lecture/demonstration is free and open to the public. Please click on the image for the complete details and to see a larger version of the poster.