About Company
連翹奏/RenGyoSoh is a multi-award winning New York-based Butoh theatre group which founded by a Japanese artist, Yokko in 2014. It dedicates to create and produce a new work through collaborations, organize an event such as UNFIX NYC, and offer training opportunities. Since 2021, RenGyoSoh created Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) program to open the possibilities to develop a new work by early career artist. Our primal mission is to cultivate new forms of theater through collaborations and synthesis of variety of disciplines. Our intention to be a cultural bridge and reflection of our ever evolving culture, and constantly to challenge to our society, our audience, and our own limitations.
Company History
PRIOR TO 連翹奏/RENGYOSOH
RenGyoSoh’s prior incarnation was as JPAC (Japanese Performing Arts Company), which Yokko founded in Oregon in 2008. With JPAC, she performed their first work, Blue Sky -There is a Will; There is a Way- combining Japanese classical dance, Japanese stage combat, contemporary dance and drama. JPAC also trained company members and held workshops for local communities to share Japanese culture around Eugene, OR. Yokko received the "International Understanding Award" through JPAC's work in 2008. During 2011 and 2012 Yokko performed for NICODA, and presented their solo piece, Hope From the Chaos (Solo) and duet piece KIZUNA (Connection) with an actor & movement artist, Michael Billingsley for multiple venues in NYC.
BUTOH + YOKKO = 連翹奏/RENGYOSOH
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where they studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not their main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, a NY based physical theatre company, hired Yokko as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where Yokko played Clytemnestra. That was Yokko's actual entrance into Butoh practice. Yokko has studied with Yumiko Yoshioka, Yoshito Oho, Seisaku, Vangeline, Diego Pinon and more. They slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made Yokko to create their own group, 会/KAI (A Japanese word, gathering) to broaden their training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. Yokko named their Kai, 連翹奏/RenGyoSoh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary in 2014.
連翹奏/RENGYOSOH (2014-2019)
Yokko brought the first creation, Butoh Medea to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 with the company guest director, Brian Rhinehart, a writer, Sean Michael Welch, Co-choreographer, Jordan Rosin, lighting designer, Derek Van Heel, and Costume designer, Deepsikha Chatterjee. Since then, Butoh Medea has been touring Europe and North America. Meanwhile, Yokko had developed an ensemble work, SHINKA (2016-2019) which received multi-awards. Yokko developed, created and performed several other works as well as organized social action annual event such as UNFIX NYC: creating an awareness of ecology through Arts with their collaborators, Michael Paul Henry, The Ume Group, and Grace & St. Paul's Church while offering seasonal Butoh Workshops.
ONLINE FORMAT (2020-2021)
Since 2020 due to the world pandemic, the company shifted online format, and held trainings, productions and events online. The company created several Butoh cinemas and video works. The company created Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground), and produced new work, IKIGAI created by Japanese artist, Saki Kawamura who has been trained in Butoh & Movement through RGS's training course since 2020. IKIGAI went to Hollywood Fringe 2021, and received the audience award.
NEW PHRASE (2022- present)
September, 2022, Saki Kawamura is appointed to be the associate artistic director to lead the company to a new direction/possibility. In 2022, Saki became the co-program director of Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) with a lighting / set designer, Chase Kniffin. In 2022, Megan Cattau, (Phd) became the co-producing artistic directer of UNFIX NYC: creating an awareness of ecology through arts. Currently, we facilitate a new work 2-3 times a year through Artists' Lab, organize an annual event, UNFIX NYC, and offering training, and looking for a grant to produce our new work!
RenGyoSoh’s prior incarnation was as JPAC (Japanese Performing Arts Company), which Yokko founded in Oregon in 2008. With JPAC, she performed their first work, Blue Sky -There is a Will; There is a Way- combining Japanese classical dance, Japanese stage combat, contemporary dance and drama. JPAC also trained company members and held workshops for local communities to share Japanese culture around Eugene, OR. Yokko received the "International Understanding Award" through JPAC's work in 2008. During 2011 and 2012 Yokko performed for NICODA, and presented their solo piece, Hope From the Chaos (Solo) and duet piece KIZUNA (Connection) with an actor & movement artist, Michael Billingsley for multiple venues in NYC.
BUTOH + YOKKO = 連翹奏/RENGYOSOH
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where they studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not their main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, a NY based physical theatre company, hired Yokko as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where Yokko played Clytemnestra. That was Yokko's actual entrance into Butoh practice. Yokko has studied with Yumiko Yoshioka, Yoshito Oho, Seisaku, Vangeline, Diego Pinon and more. They slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made Yokko to create their own group, 会/KAI (A Japanese word, gathering) to broaden their training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. Yokko named their Kai, 連翹奏/RenGyoSoh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary in 2014.
連翹奏/RENGYOSOH (2014-2019)
Yokko brought the first creation, Butoh Medea to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 with the company guest director, Brian Rhinehart, a writer, Sean Michael Welch, Co-choreographer, Jordan Rosin, lighting designer, Derek Van Heel, and Costume designer, Deepsikha Chatterjee. Since then, Butoh Medea has been touring Europe and North America. Meanwhile, Yokko had developed an ensemble work, SHINKA (2016-2019) which received multi-awards. Yokko developed, created and performed several other works as well as organized social action annual event such as UNFIX NYC: creating an awareness of ecology through Arts with their collaborators, Michael Paul Henry, The Ume Group, and Grace & St. Paul's Church while offering seasonal Butoh Workshops.
ONLINE FORMAT (2020-2021)
Since 2020 due to the world pandemic, the company shifted online format, and held trainings, productions and events online. The company created several Butoh cinemas and video works. The company created Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground), and produced new work, IKIGAI created by Japanese artist, Saki Kawamura who has been trained in Butoh & Movement through RGS's training course since 2020. IKIGAI went to Hollywood Fringe 2021, and received the audience award.
NEW PHRASE (2022- present)
September, 2022, Saki Kawamura is appointed to be the associate artistic director to lead the company to a new direction/possibility. In 2022, Saki became the co-program director of Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) with a lighting / set designer, Chase Kniffin. In 2022, Megan Cattau, (Phd) became the co-producing artistic directer of UNFIX NYC: creating an awareness of ecology through arts. Currently, we facilitate a new work 2-3 times a year through Artists' Lab, organize an annual event, UNFIX NYC, and offering training, and looking for a grant to produce our new work!
Mission Statement
RenGyoSoh produces primary Japanese artists' Yokko and Saki Kawamura's works through collaborations with other artists. Our primal mission is to cultivate new forms of theater through collaborations and synthesis of variety of disciplines. Our intention to be a cultural bridge and reflection of our ever evolving culture, and constantly to challenge to our society, our audience, and our own limitations.
Environment Policy
As a participant in the global arts, as well as the creative and cultural sector, we are aware of our impact on the environment and recognize the need to be responsible for this impact. We are committed to the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle, working proactively to minimize our environmental impact and promoting more sustainable ways of working. We aspire to engage in our current society’s ecological issues, bring awareness to these issues and help raise questions through our artistic work.
Awards:
Winner of Outstanding of Choreography (Yoshiko Usami for SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Outstanding Production of an experimental of a dance piece (SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Outstanding of Ensemble of an experimental or a dance piece (SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Best Actress (Yokko for Butoh Medea, TVolution Hollywood Fringe Award 2018)
Winner of Best Physical Theatre (Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Lighting Design (Derek Van Heel for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Costume Design (Deepshikha Chatterjee for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Sound Design (Yokko with Jorge Olivo for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Physical Theatre (Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2015)
Winner of Best Choreography (Yokko & Jordan Rosin, Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best One Woman Show (Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best Lighting Design (Derek Van Heel for Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best Costume Design (Deepshikha Chatterjee for Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Recipient of Special Award (Yokko for Butoh Medea, Thespis Festival 2018, Kiel, Germany)
Recipient of Green Award (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2018 NYC)
Nominee for Best International Play (Butoh Medea, Hollywood Fringe 2018)
Nominee for Best Dance and Physical Theatre (Butoh Medea, Hollywood Fringe 2018)
Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Yokko in Antigone, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2016)
Nominee for Asian Arts Award (Butoh Medea, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015)
Nominee for Best International Play (BALDY, Hollywood Fringe 2013)
International Understanding Award (Blue Sky-If there is a will, there is a way- by JPAC, in 2008) University of Oregon
Winner of Outstanding of Choreography (Yoshiko Usami for SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Outstanding Production of an experimental of a dance piece (SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Outstanding of Ensemble of an experimental or a dance piece (SHINKA, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity NYC 2018)
Winner of Best Actress (Yokko for Butoh Medea, TVolution Hollywood Fringe Award 2018)
Winner of Best Physical Theatre (Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Lighting Design (Derek Van Heel for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Costume Design (Deepshikha Chatterjee for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Sound Design (Yokko with Jorge Olivo for Hide Your Fires, United Solo NYC 2017)
Winner of Best Physical Theatre (Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2015)
Winner of Best Choreography (Yokko & Jordan Rosin, Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best One Woman Show (Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best Lighting Design (Derek Van Heel for Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Winner of Best Costume Design (Deepshikha Chatterjee for Butoh Medea, United Solo NYC 2014)
Recipient of Special Award (Yokko for Butoh Medea, Thespis Festival 2018, Kiel, Germany)
Recipient of Green Award (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2018 NYC)
Nominee for Best International Play (Butoh Medea, Hollywood Fringe 2018)
Nominee for Best Dance and Physical Theatre (Butoh Medea, Hollywood Fringe 2018)
Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Yokko in Antigone, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2016)
Nominee for Asian Arts Award (Butoh Medea, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015)
Nominee for Best International Play (BALDY, Hollywood Fringe 2013)
International Understanding Award (Blue Sky-If there is a will, there is a way- by JPAC, in 2008) University of Oregon