OPEN LAB | Dancing Stillness and Silence with Yuki Kawahisa

2026 AiR Yuki Kawahisa presents a movement workshop that examines the beauty and narrative potential of stillness and silence. Incorporating elements of Noh Theater, Butoh, Noguchi Taiso, Tai Chi, movement improvisation and clowning, Kawahisa will engage participants in inclusive communication around movement and disability, challenging perceived limitations around “normal” movement in performance.

Participants with disabilities, mobility-limitations, and no prior dance experience are encouraged to register.

CPR is a fully ADA-compliant and accessible venue with two single occupancy, all gender restrooms and one wheelchair-accessible restroom.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Yuki Kawahisa, a native of Japan, based in New York for over two decades now, is a proud immigrant who earned the US Permanent Residency status through her work achievement in the field of performing arts. As an actor, performing artist, theatre creator, she has written/directed/choreographed her own theatrical work and has collaborated and devised pieces with others. Kawahisa works across disciplines with various artists, companies in New York and internationally.

Everything she creates is somewhat influenced by her Japanese origin, the beauty and richness of the culture, its esthetics, language, literature, traditions (and the coquettish, Kawaii culture also). Training background include: Noh (Kita style, Tokyo), Clowning (Sue Morrison), Balinese/Mask dance (Bali, Indonesia), Noguchi Taiso (Mari Osanai) and Butoh with numerous Japanese masters.

She often creates peculiar, darkly humorous and absurdly comical movement pieces with texts. She sees great beauty in stillness and silence. She dances still and tells stories with silence. And those are her uniqueness and strength, her signature style. Her work is a reflection of herself, closely intertwined to her identity as a minority/immigrant/woman living abroad. She creates to give herself a voice and the strength to voice it and be heard.

OPEN LAB is a series that encompasses theoretical and practical discussions, movement research, and workshops open to the public that invite practice-based inquiry and creative exchange of ideas.

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Host or Publisher CPR- Center for Performance Research