Anan Atoyama, Japanese choreographer settled in France, after living many experiences throughout the four continents, pays tribute to Kazuo Ohno with Hidden Body, and translates his vision of dance to us.

She considers that Kazuo Ohno had the ability to connect his gesture to the universal by personal emotions; he accepted the multiple colors of self and expressed them throughout multiple ways of beings, as if his body contained the Universe.

The choreographer deepens with her dancers, coming from different cultures, the connections between their memories and their bodies, in order to live again each moment with a true energy. By drawing into their identity and their diversity, Hidden Body blossoms in the ephemeral aspect of existence.

Anan Atoyama collaborates with the composer and musician Keiji Haino, who attended the opening performance of La Argentina by Kazuo Ohno, and who worked with him. Their artistic dialogue for Hidden Body offers an experience made of multiple layers of imagination, as well as visual and hearing sensations.

Anan Atoyama was born in Fukuoka, Japan. After the formation of classical dance during childhood, she left her hometown to study psychology in the US. During these years she discovered the richness of modern dance and settled in New York for three years. There she studied at the Alvin Ailey School, Trisha Brown studio and Merce Cunningham Studio. And she worked with various choreographers.
In 2004 Anan Atoyama worked for a production by the Theater der Klänge in Germany, and then worked for two years as a choreographer and dance teacher at the Conservatoires Régionaux de Musique et de Danse de Mahdia et de Monastir (Tunisia). During this time she also taught at ATAS de Madhia, a school for those who are deaf-mute.
Upon returning to Japan in 2007, Anan presented her solo performance Dai-Chi at the Dance Hakushu festival organised by Min Tanaka. In 2008 the young choreographer settled in Lyon and founded the AToU Company. She worked on international projects while simultaneously pursuing her own creations.
In 2012 AToU was chosen to be company-in-residence at the Charlie Chaplin Centre. Since then, Anan has collaborated with various genres of artists such as musicians, media artists, composer, poets, illustrator, dj, actors for creating WelCOME, SHiNMu, Mille Oasis and Love Me Softly / Kill Me Tender.
At the sustained pace of one creation per year, she develops simultaneously on the territory – with the help of local actors and an involved team – innovative and ambitious projects towards amateurs from all horizons.

choreography: Anan Atoyama
interpretation: Anan Atoyama, Shaula Cambazzu, Francesca Cinalli, Charles Ngombengombe
music: Keiji Haino
costume: Anan Atoyama, Carole Nobiron
scenography: Anan Atoyama
partners: Ramdam, un centre d’art/Cie Maguy Marin (FR); CDC Atelier de Paris/Carolyn Carlson (FR); Association Danse Dense (FR); Le Regard du Cygne (FR); CND Pantin (FR); CSC Garage Nardini; Spazio K/Kinkaleri; Giardino Chiuso; Cantieri Teatrali Koreja
with the support of SPEDIDAM

Show presented within La Francia in Scena, artistic season of Institut français Italia, realized on the initiative of the Embassy of France in Italy, with the support of Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Fondazione Nuovi Mecenati, Sacem Copie Privée, European Commission (Creative Europe) and Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca – Afam (MIUR – Afam).

[photo: Jade Lohé]