Ma On The Edge (5 Episodes)
Sight Specific Butoh Dances In NYC by RGS company Members At Unfix NYC at Unfix Festival
About
“Ma” is a Japanese word and concept which exists between time and space. It exists between this past year and now, between people, and between people and space. Ren Gyo Soh company members explore “Ma” through sight specific dances in selected neighborhoods of New York City. We dance with the energy of the land, the energy of people, and the energy of nature, which reflects on our lives in New York City NOW 2021 (May-June, 2021) Performers & Creators
Saki Kawamura, Miles Butler, Yokko, Annie McCoy, Zak Ma Concept, Artistic Direction & Editing: Yoshiko Sienkiewicz Theme Music: Paul Michael Henry Direction (ep 5): Brian Rhinehart Videographer (ep3 & 5): Krzy Sien Videographer (ep2):Charlie Himel Videographer (ep2):Bonnie Puk Videographer (ep2):Ki-hong Jang Music (ep4 &5): Marlfaux |
June 11-27, 2021
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Episode 1_ Pressure
Performed & Created by Saki Kawamura Concept & Artistic Direction by Yoshiko Sienkiewicz Editing by Saki Kawamura & Yoshiko Sienkiewicz Intro Music by Paul Michael Henry **This work was originally created for UNFIX festival 2021, and released in June 15, 2021 |
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Saki Kawamura (Performer: episode 1 & 5) is a NY-based Japanese director and interdisciplinary artist, her passion for theatre led her to move to NYC in 2019 to study. She currently pursues her MFA in Directing at the Actors Studio Drama School, and she possesses a BA in Sociology and Media Studies from International Christian University in Tokyo. She puts great value on the process of collaboration, and loves to hear the stories of her collaborators and put them into her work. She believes that this emphasis on collaboration is what makes her work unique and singular.
Miles Butler(Performer: episode 2 & 5) is an Actor, Physical Theatre Artist from D.C. He has been working with Annie since 2017. NYC Credits: Peter and the Starcatcher (EPIC), Caveman Play (Third Space), Shinka (RenGyoSoh), Loudmouth (Rebel Playhouse), Naked Hamlet (Torn Out Theater)Anthropomorphic (Puppetry Arts), Ariel in The Tempest (Stag and Lion). DC: Studio Theatre, Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Wolf Trap, Ford’s Theater and Folger Theater. Former company member of Synetic Theater and the Flea Theatre. He is a teaching artist with EPIC Players, a neuro-inclusive theatre company.
Annie McCoy(Performer: episode 4&5) is an Actor, Physical Theatre performer and Butoh Dancer originally from Orlando. She has been working with Miles since 2017. She is a Principal performer with the Butoh company Ren Gyo Soh and has been seen in their productions of Shinka (Winner of IT awards), En, and En: 2021.
As well as productions with The UME Group and Piper theatre.
Zak Ma(Performer: episode 4&5) is a New York based Vietnamese American actor and physical theatre artist. He has collaborated in original experimental works such as The Park, Forces, and SHINKA, where he first dove into butoh with Ren Gyo Soh. Recently, Zak made his debut performance as a Ren Gyo Soh company member in EN:2021, and is thrilled to explore Ma on the Edge. Zak believes in the healing power of art and aims to explore the human psyche and spirituality in his artistic endeavors. zak-ma.com
Yokko (performer for Episode 3&5, Concept, Artistic Direction & Editing) is an award-winning Japanese artist, whose work has been presented across the USA and Europe. She has acted in, devised, and choreographed a variety of local and international shows and films. Most recently, her Butoh work has been seen in several music videos, including I Don’t Know Where We Went Wrong (HOKO, 2020) and Ready To Let Go (Cage The Elephant, 2019). She is the artistic director of the Butoh Theatre Group, Ren Gyo Soh.
Paul Michael Henry (Theme Music) is a Butoh Artist, Music Composer based in Glasgow, Scotland. "I make performances. My starting points are dance, music, writing and ritual; my artistic approach grows out of punk rock and Butoh."
Brian Rhinehart (Director of Episode 5) is a freelance actor and director, and a full-time lecturer at The Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. Working primarily in devised theatre and collaborative playmaking, Brian has given numerous seminars and workshops on acting, comedy-improvisation and devising in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and the productions he has directed have been seen in seven countries and all over the U.S. He is a TEDx and Fulbright teaching scholar, and for the past ten years has worked as an actor with the company Forum for Arts and Culture, in Heersum, Germany. Brian assistant-directed the first national Broadway tour of The Wedding Singer, was named “Best Director” of the 2001 New York International Fringe Festival for the play Einstein’s Dreams, was a member of the 2006 Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. The plays/performances he has written or co-written have been seen in the New York International Fringe Festival and a variety of Off-Off Broadway venues. Brian is an internationally published scholar on the subject of contemporary German theatre, and is co-author of a book on comedy acting, titled Comedy Acting for Theatre: The Art and Craft of Performing in Comedies, published by Bloomsbury/Methuen.
MARLFAUX (Music for Episode 4 & 5) has been actively creating audio and visual art since 2018. You can find their music on all major streaming services. Visit www.marlfaux.com to find out more, connect, and collaborate.
Krzy Sien (Videographer of Episode 3 & 5) is a New York based freelance photographer from Poland. He occasionally does videography and cinematography. He has been working with Ren Gyo Soh since 2018.
Ren Gyo Soh (Producer of Ma On The Edge) is a multi-award winning New York-based Butoh theatre group. It was founded by a Japanese artist, Yokko in 2014. It produces her work with collaborators, such as writers, directors, choreographers, dancers, actors, lighting designers, costume designers, composers, musicians, and painters by using Butoh, Acting, Movement, Yoga, and Voice. It offers workshops throughout a year.
Saki Kawamura (Performer: episode 1 & 5) is a NY-based Japanese director and interdisciplinary artist, her passion for theatre led her to move to NYC in 2019 to study. She currently pursues her MFA in Directing at the Actors Studio Drama School, and she possesses a BA in Sociology and Media Studies from International Christian University in Tokyo. She puts great value on the process of collaboration, and loves to hear the stories of her collaborators and put them into her work. She believes that this emphasis on collaboration is what makes her work unique and singular.
Miles Butler(Performer: episode 2 & 5) is an Actor, Physical Theatre Artist from D.C. He has been working with Annie since 2017. NYC Credits: Peter and the Starcatcher (EPIC), Caveman Play (Third Space), Shinka (RenGyoSoh), Loudmouth (Rebel Playhouse), Naked Hamlet (Torn Out Theater)Anthropomorphic (Puppetry Arts), Ariel in The Tempest (Stag and Lion). DC: Studio Theatre, Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Wolf Trap, Ford’s Theater and Folger Theater. Former company member of Synetic Theater and the Flea Theatre. He is a teaching artist with EPIC Players, a neuro-inclusive theatre company.
Annie McCoy(Performer: episode 4&5) is an Actor, Physical Theatre performer and Butoh Dancer originally from Orlando. She has been working with Miles since 2017. She is a Principal performer with the Butoh company Ren Gyo Soh and has been seen in their productions of Shinka (Winner of IT awards), En, and En: 2021.
As well as productions with The UME Group and Piper theatre.
Zak Ma(Performer: episode 4&5) is a New York based Vietnamese American actor and physical theatre artist. He has collaborated in original experimental works such as The Park, Forces, and SHINKA, where he first dove into butoh with Ren Gyo Soh. Recently, Zak made his debut performance as a Ren Gyo Soh company member in EN:2021, and is thrilled to explore Ma on the Edge. Zak believes in the healing power of art and aims to explore the human psyche and spirituality in his artistic endeavors. zak-ma.com
Yokko (performer for Episode 3&5, Concept, Artistic Direction & Editing) is an award-winning Japanese artist, whose work has been presented across the USA and Europe. She has acted in, devised, and choreographed a variety of local and international shows and films. Most recently, her Butoh work has been seen in several music videos, including I Don’t Know Where We Went Wrong (HOKO, 2020) and Ready To Let Go (Cage The Elephant, 2019). She is the artistic director of the Butoh Theatre Group, Ren Gyo Soh.
Paul Michael Henry (Theme Music) is a Butoh Artist, Music Composer based in Glasgow, Scotland. "I make performances. My starting points are dance, music, writing and ritual; my artistic approach grows out of punk rock and Butoh."
Brian Rhinehart (Director of Episode 5) is a freelance actor and director, and a full-time lecturer at The Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. Working primarily in devised theatre and collaborative playmaking, Brian has given numerous seminars and workshops on acting, comedy-improvisation and devising in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and the productions he has directed have been seen in seven countries and all over the U.S. He is a TEDx and Fulbright teaching scholar, and for the past ten years has worked as an actor with the company Forum for Arts and Culture, in Heersum, Germany. Brian assistant-directed the first national Broadway tour of The Wedding Singer, was named “Best Director” of the 2001 New York International Fringe Festival for the play Einstein’s Dreams, was a member of the 2006 Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. The plays/performances he has written or co-written have been seen in the New York International Fringe Festival and a variety of Off-Off Broadway venues. Brian is an internationally published scholar on the subject of contemporary German theatre, and is co-author of a book on comedy acting, titled Comedy Acting for Theatre: The Art and Craft of Performing in Comedies, published by Bloomsbury/Methuen.
MARLFAUX (Music for Episode 4 & 5) has been actively creating audio and visual art since 2018. You can find their music on all major streaming services. Visit www.marlfaux.com to find out more, connect, and collaborate.
Krzy Sien (Videographer of Episode 3 & 5) is a New York based freelance photographer from Poland. He occasionally does videography and cinematography. He has been working with Ren Gyo Soh since 2018.
Ren Gyo Soh (Producer of Ma On The Edge) is a multi-award winning New York-based Butoh theatre group. It was founded by a Japanese artist, Yokko in 2014. It produces her work with collaborators, such as writers, directors, choreographers, dancers, actors, lighting designers, costume designers, composers, musicians, and painters by using Butoh, Acting, Movement, Yoga, and Voice. It offers workshops throughout a year.