How have menstruating bodies historically been spoken about and marginalised? Can we entrust pain and the sense of the absurd to something?
Menstruation has been given meaning at the intersection of social customs and scientific discourse. In this work, while still emphasizing the importance of scientific knowledge and understanding, team chiipro – a performance unit that consists of Nanako Matsumoto and Kengo Nishimoto – performs a ritual dance around the absurdity of menstruation, something that cannot be fully grasped through scientific discourse and understanding alone.
What emerges is the Shiko* dance which involves opening and raising the legs before stomping on the ground. The performance takes inspiration from the motion of Shiko to wittily transgress a social boundary.
The two artists‛ engagements in text and dance collide and respond to each other in calculated harmony. Four years after its premiere at Kyoto Experiment 2022, this work opens a new dohyō** in an age of division.
*Traditionally refers to the ceremonial leg raising ritual done by sumo wrestlers.
**Sumo ring
Credits:
Choreography and Direction: Nanako Matsumoto & Kengo Nishimoto / team chiipro
Performer : Nanako Matsumoto
Music : Hayato Ichimura, Mina Hayashi
Lighting Design : Kana Watanabe
Costume Design : Kazuto Suzuki (islands)
Choreographic Collaborators and Performers: Yuka Uchida, Kohei Maeda
Video Design : Daichi Abe
Production Coordinator: Yoshimi Toyoyama
Stage Manager : Marie Moriyama
Technical Adviser : Yukiko Yoshimoto (Mahiru)
English subtitles : Kyoka Kawai Arisawa, Juliet Reiko Knapp
Produced by team chiipro
Co-produced by Kyoto Experiment
Supported by The Saison Foundation
Presenting partner: Kyoto Experiment with the support of Japan Creator Support Fun
