MESSAGE
March 4, 2019
Disability and Performing Arts Symposium "Aiming to create diverse and rich performing arts"
Yoko, the representative of this group, took the stage.
At the "Disability and Performing Arts Symposium" Aiming to Create Diverse and Rich Performing Arts "" (sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater) held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater on March 6, 2019, the representative of this organization, the West Ko (Chairman of NPO Minna no Dance Field, Professor of Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin University) took the stage.
In the first part, Makoto Nakashima (Artistic Director of Jiyuu Theater, Director), Shohei Shibata (Stop Gap Dance Company Executive Producer), and Nishi, the representative of this organization, are the tracks of their activities. And lectured on the prospects.
In the second part, discussions were held under the theme of "From the accumulation of physical expression activities to the creation of performing arts" while comparing the activities of three groups with different characteristics.
The right is the west of the representative of this group.
On the left is Shohei Shibata (Stop Gap Dance Company Executive Producer)
Five members, including three university students, participated from everyone's dance field. Hirono-san (university student, wheelchair user), a member who has been active in the dance field since childhood, commented that he participated in the symposium, saying, "I have been in the dance field since I was a child, so even if I have a disability. I thought it was natural for everyone to be on an equal footing, regardless of anything. ” “ As Professor Nishi said, it's a plus when unexpected new expressions are born because of the differences. I think, but I feel that in society, people tend to think of "differences" as negative, such as having to find something in common because they are different . " The other members who participated and the members of the dance field who heard the report received the same impression.
Hirono plays the leading role in the new project "Looking for the Future" for elementary school students, which started in January this year, and is enthusiastically studying facilitators.
"I'm more motivated that if I do my best in a new project, I might be able to change that idea." "From the words in the discussion," It's important to continue patiently without fear of failure. " I received a great deal of confidence and courage . "
Similarly, Ayako, a college student, is a member who has been active in everyone's dance field since childhood, and once she left, she resumed her activities. I am also involved in the planning and management of "Looking for the Future". At this symposium, he felt once again that "our dance may have a wider range of expression because there are no restrictions" due to the differences in the expression styles and creative processes of each group.
Also, when I saw a video of a wheelchair and other groups dancing with children using sticks, "Suddenly, I remembered everyone's dance field performance when I was in elementary school. Now, we also use sticks as tools. I thought that what I could express by just adjusting it without going through (after I was using it) might seem simple and express it in an advanced way. " I once left the dance field and had the opportunity to see it from the outside, but I feel that the dance field is like a dance field. People with and without disabilities can work together on the dance field to create works. I feel like I'm enjoying the music that plays . " For Ayako, it seems that it was an opportunity to reconsider the experience she has accumulated so far, her current expression, and her relationship with the dance field.
This symposium was a valuable opportunity to touch on the trajectory and prospects of the activities of other organizations that we cannot usually hear, and to hear the passion of the people who lead the organizations as representatives. In addition, we directly delivered the idea of "Minna no Dance Field" to many people, and it became a place where we were blessed with new encounters. After the symposium, we received many impressions from people involved in art, education, and welfare. We would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater for hosting the event.
A new world of expression beyond imagination is born because of the diverse "everyone" who does not divide people according to the presence or absence of disabilities. I would like to continue to vigorously convey to society what we can say, which we have experienced physically and mentally.