This work by choreographer KURODA Ikuyo, in which she dances with her all-women BATIK company, expresses the process of daily life from birth to death.

KURODA officially founded BATIK in 2002 after the troupe won the National Council prize at that year’s Yokohama Platform of Rencontre Chorégraphiques International de Seine St. Denis (formerly The Bagnolet International Competition). Since then she has created many emotional and impressive works for the company, often drawing on humans’ impulsive nature and core physicality.

In “THE RELIGION OF BIRDS,” which had its world premiere in January 2017 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, KURODA drew inspiration from the central role of birds in Tibetan Buddhism through their simple acts of living, eating and dying. The result is a profoundly soulful dance that seems as if it is actually being performed by birds.

Presented by: The Japan Foundation (JF) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/)

＜Performance Credits＞
Direction and Choreography：KURODA Ikuyo (http://batik.jp/)
Dancers：ISA Chiaki, OE Mamiko, NOMURA Kotone, MASAOKA Yuiko, YAJIMA Kumiko, KURODA Ikuyo
Music：MATSUMOTO Jiro
Costume：HAGINO Midori
Lighting Design: ITO Masakazu
Sound Engineer: KANEKO Shinya
Stage Manager: ISHII Shinobu, OZAKI Satoshi
Technical Manager: SEKI Hideya (RYU)
Producer: SATO Norikazu
Program Director: MIZUNO Ritsuko
The world premiere of “THE RELIGION OF BIRDS” was produced by the project “We’re Gonna Go Dancing!! Second vol.7 2016” at NPO Japan Contemporary Dance Network (JCDN).

＜Promotional Text＞
TANAKA Nobuko (English), KAWAZOE Fumiko (Japanese)

End date of distribution: 31/3/2022