SHIRABYOSHI—a War-Time Dancer in White ( World Premier in 2017)

Choreographed by Tanroh Ishida and Miki Orihara
Music by JetSam
Costume by Tanroh Ishida and Miki Orihara
Lighting by  Christopher Weston

Danced by Miki Orihara

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SHIRABYOSHI, its literal translation is “White Stamping”, was a name given for a type female dancer during Japan’s samurai era. These dancers were one of a very few entertainers for warriors before they went into battle. Shogun Takauji Ashikaga (1305–1358) famously fell in love with one of these dancers. There is no written document explaining what the dance looked like. All we know is that they wore white costumes and a specific hat that was usually worn by men. It was a kind of transsexual attire and some suggest she even danced with a sword. This description reminded us of the memorable dance in Cavani’s “The Night Porter” which suggests there must have been a kind of eroticism to a woman wearing a man’s authoritative uniform. What also interested us was that these women’s circumstance forced them into witnessing the tragedies of war. Therefore, it is not too far fetched to guess that they would have inserted a sense of resistance in their art form. Today we recognize that women and children often are the worst victims of war and our version of “Shirabyoshi” is what it might be like if Shirabyoshi existed now. Miki brought in her skills and techniques gained mainly from Martha Graham. Tanroh, on the other hand, introduced the physicality of Japanese traditional movements to Miki. Much of the choreography was influenced by Sanbaso Dance. –TI.