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 work through collaborations, organize an event such as UNFIX NYC, and offer training opportunities. Since 2021, RenGyoSoh created Artist Lab (Playground) program to opened 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.
Ren Gyo Soh’s primal mission is to be a cultural bridge in the world by not only carrying individual voices but through collaboration, and cultivates new forms of theater that reflect our evolving culture. Our work is constantly challenging to our society, our audience, and our own limitations.
Ren Gyo Soh’s prior company was JPAC (Japanese Performing Arts Company), which she founded in Oregon in 2008, and performed Yokko's first work, Blue Sky -there is a will; there is a way- combining Japanese Classical Dance, Japanese Stage Combat, Contemporary Dance and Drama. Yokko taught company members, and also held many workshops for local communities in order to share Japanese culture. She received the "International Understanding Award" through JPAC's work in 2008. During 2011-2012 she performed for NICODA, and presented her solo piece, Hope from the chaos and KIZUNA - connection-. (Reviewed by Daily News)
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where she studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not her main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, NY based physical theatre company, hired her as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where she played Clytmnestra. That was her actual entrance into Butoh practice. She has studied with Vangeline, Yumiko Yoshioka, and Diego Pinon. She slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made her create her own group, KAI (A Japanese word, group) to broaden her training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. She named her Kai, Ren Gyo Soh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary.
Ren Gyo Soh Work:
Full-Length:
SHINKA (2016-2018)
Butoh Medea (2014-)
Hide Your Fires (2017-)
En (2019-)
*En is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
Short Piece:
Mukuro (2022), Ma; on the edge (2021), Oblivion (2021), No One (2021), Pause; yet life goes on (2020), The Goddesses Project (2019), Shira Hime Ryu (2018-), A Green Bird (2015), Hoich -the earless- (2014), The Red Shoes (2014), The Name of Action (2015)
Awards:
Winner of Outstanding of Choreography (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 (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 (Ren Gyo Soh 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 (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 (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 (Messenger 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
Ren Gyo Soh’s primal mission is to be a cultural bridge in the world by not only carrying individual voices but through collaboration, and cultivates new forms of theater that reflect our evolving culture. Our work is constantly challenging to our society, our audience, and our own limitations.
Ren Gyo Soh’s prior company was JPAC (Japanese Performing Arts Company), which she founded in Oregon in 2008, and performed Yokko's first work, Blue Sky -there is a will; there is a way- combining Japanese Classical Dance, Japanese Stage Combat, Contemporary Dance and Drama. Yokko taught company members, and also held many workshops for local communities in order to share Japanese culture. She received the "International Understanding Award" through JPAC's work in 2008. During 2011-2012 she performed for NICODA, and presented her solo piece, Hope from the chaos and KIZUNA - connection-. (Reviewed by Daily News)
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where she studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not her main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, NY based physical theatre company, hired her as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where she played Clytmnestra. That was her actual entrance into Butoh practice. She has studied with Vangeline, Yumiko Yoshioka, and Diego Pinon. She slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made her create her own group, KAI (A Japanese word, group) to broaden her training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. She named her Kai, Ren Gyo Soh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary.
Ren Gyo Soh Work:
Full-Length:
SHINKA (2016-2018)
Butoh Medea (2014-)
Hide Your Fires (2017-)
En (2019-)
*En is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
Short Piece:
Mukuro (2022), Ma; on the edge (2021), Oblivion (2021), No One (2021), Pause; yet life goes on (2020), The Goddesses Project (2019), Shira Hime Ryu (2018-), A Green Bird (2015), Hoich -the earless- (2014), The Red Shoes (2014), The Name of Action (2015)
Awards:
Winner of Outstanding of Choreography (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 (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 (Ren Gyo Soh 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 (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 (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 (Messenger 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
Mission Statement
RenGyoSoh cultivates new forms of theater through synthesis of different artistic discplines and collaborations. We carry the works which not only reflects on our ever-evolving culture and society we live in, but challenges 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.
Ren Gyo Soh's Workshop
Ren Gyo Soh workshops feature a series of exercises from Butoh, various movement training disciplines in theatre and dance, Acting, Voice, physical theatre and Yoga. The exercises bring you to a state of openness, which allows you to not only explore your organic self, but also to connect with the nature around you. No dance or theatre experience is required.
Several Types of Workshops:
Transformation
Butoh & Movement
Butoh & Movement For Physical Theatre
Butoh & Movement For Actors
Ren Gyo Soh Training Course: Butoh & Movement
Several Types of Workshops:
Transformation
Butoh & Movement
Butoh & Movement For Physical Theatre
Butoh & Movement For Actors
Ren Gyo Soh Training Course: Butoh & Movement