Matasaburo and the Wind Imp at Aichi Arts Center

Directed and choreographed by artistic director Saburo Teshigawara, the dance Matasaburo the Wind Imp will be performed on 24 Jul and 25 Jul in the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Main Hall. 

This is the first time Teshigawara has composed, directed, and choreographed a dance performance as artistic director at the Main Hall. 

Saburo Teshigawara, Artistic Director, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater

The performers are 11 experienced ballet dancers in their teens and twenties with ties to the Tokai region. Auditions and workshops for the performers were held last October, and they have been rehearsing at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater under the direction of Teshigawara since November. 

In the past, Teshigawara has created other dance works based on the works of Kenji Miyazawa, such as An Asura in Spring and Night on the Galactic Railroad. This time, Matasaburo the Wind Imp tells the story of an exchange student who arrives at a small school in the mountains. The story portrays how the children change and grow as they go through experiences of confusion, nervousness, and struggle, just as the seasons change from summer to fall. 

We hope that this performance will be an opportunity for everyone to become interested in dance, not just children, but people of all ages. We hope you will enjoy this new work created in Aichi by a world-famous director and choreographer with young local dancers. 

DATE & TIME: Saturday, 24 July, and Sunday, 25 July 15:00 start (doors open 14:15)
VENUE: Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Main Hall
TICKETING: https://www-stage.aac.pref.aichi.jp/event/  

Dancers rehearsing in the main rehearsal room of the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater in February 2021 (Photo by Naoshi Hatori)

Dancers rehearsing in the main rehearsal room of the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater in February 2021