Japan Society’s annual Contemporary Dance Festival features works from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea
Japan Society
333 East 47th St. at First Ave.
Friday, January 4, and Saturday, January 5, $30, 7:30
212-715-1258
www.japansociety.org
The annual Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia, previously known as the Contemporary Dance Showcase, takes place at Japan Society January 4-5 with works from three countries. From Japan, butoh legend Akira Kasai’s Pollen Revolution, which marked Kasai’s New York debut at Japan Society in 2002, has been reimagined for his son, Mitsutake Kasai, who will perform the solo, which incorporates several costume changes involving gender shifts. Taiwan also honors family with the North American premiere of Kuan-Hsiang Liu’s award-winning Kids, a tribute to his mother that includes recorded excerpts of her voice as she battled cancer (and will be performed by Liu, Yu-Yuan Huang, and Wan-Lun Yu). And from Korea, Goblin Party presents the North American premiere of Silver Knife, a work, inspired by the traditional eunjangdo, for four women that explores female identity and expectations, directed and choreographed by Jinho Lim and Kyungmin Ji and featuring Lim, Lee, Hyun Min Ahn, and Yeonju Lee. Opening night will be followed by a meet-the-artists reception.