Ladder- Collaboration with Emiko Agatsuma (Butoh Dancer) and Miya Turnbull (Mask Artist)

Ladder- Collaboration with Emiko Agatsuma (Butoh Dancer) and Miya Turnbull (Mask Artist)

Experience a unique performance at The Bus Stop Theatre where Emiko Agatsuma (Tokyo) and Miya Turnbull (Halifax) come together for an evening of mesmerizing collaboration. Witness the fusion of Butoh dance and intricate mask artistry in a one-of-a-kind show that will transport you to another world. Don't miss this opportunity to see two talented artists blend their talents in a captivating performance alongside custom music created and performed by Gozu Mezu (Hitoshi Sugiyama) (Edmonton).

The purpose of "Ladder" is to explore important themes of cultural identity, immigration, and generational differences through the history and experiences of the Japanese diaspora. Emiko and Miya have been working together in a creative residency in Halifax, N.S. from April through to June to combine their artistic skills to create a 20 minute performance. Hitoshi has been working remotely and in-person with Emiko and Miya as well to create a musical landscape also inspired by his Japanese and Canadian experiences.

Ticket Information:

There are 3 Performances so when you purchase your ticket, make sure you are selecting the correct date and time you would like to attend. Please note after Friday night's and Saturday's matinee performance, we will offer an artist talk.

General admission is $20. There are discounts available to use as needed if finances are a barrier for you. Please use passcode: LADDER5 for a $5 discount and passcode: LADDER10 for a $10 discount. You have to manually enter these when you select your tickets. Ticket sales will help support our project and venue costs.

Biographies:

Emiko Agatsuma is a versatile Japanese artist recognized for her role as a traditional Butoh dancer, choreographer, and as the long standing Artistic Director at AGAXART, a platform dedicated to nurturing Butoh talent in Japan and internationally. www.agaxart.com and Instagram: @emiko.agatsuma

Miya Turnbull is a multi-disciplinary visual artist based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, NS). She is primarily a mask-maker, and new to her practice is performance. Miya is 3rd and 4th generation mixed Japanese Canadian and British Canadian. www.miyaturnbull.com and Instagram: @miyamask

Gozu Mezu is also known as Hitoshi Sugiyama. He was born and raised in Japan and is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a musician specializing in improvisation, ambient electronic music as well as Taiko (drum) and Shinobue (flute). He has released 2 albums under the name of Gozu Mezu: Homesick (2022) and Shogyomujo (2022). https://t-a-i-l.ca/artists/gozu_mezu/index.html and Instagram: @gozu_mezu

Along with your support, this project has been generously supported by the Tokyo Arts Council (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), Arts Nova Scotia (Support4Culture) and the Canada Council for the Arts/ Conseil des arts du Canada.

Host or Publisher Miya Turnbull