About "Wo Z Me"

次代を担う若手女性による舞踏ユニット。カナキティを中心にそれぞれの活動基盤を持つ舞踏手が派閥横断的に集う。若羽幸平が振付・演出を担当。

アメノウズメの「ウズメ」の解釈の一つ（出典：古語拾遺）である「強女（読み：おずめ）」にちなむ。日本最古の踊り子とされるウズメと日本発祥の舞踏をかけ合わせ、日本の美、舞う女性の魅力を描く。

A butoh unit of women who will lead the next generation. Butoh dancers with their own bases of activity gather around Kana Kitty in a cross-factional manner. Kohei Wakaba is in charge of choreography and direction.

The name is a reference to one of the interpretations of the word “Uzume” in Amenouzume (source: Kogo-jikki), which means “strong woman (read: Ozume). By combining Uzume, who is believed to be the oldest dancer in Japan, and Butoh, which originated in Japan, the piece depicts the beauty of Japan and the allure of dancing women.

Butoh Dancers

『ヲズメ』の舞踏手

Butoh Dancer

Kana Kitty

カナキティ

自身の表現を探求すべく、師を持たず独自に踊り始める。ヨーロッパを始め国内外の芸術祭に招聘される一方、映画「劇場版おっさんずラブ」やDIR EN GREY「落ちた事のある空」他、映像作品への出演多数。2021・22年 MUTEK出演、その他テクノDJとの共演、ファッションブランドのモデルなど活動は多岐に渡り、舞踏の認知拡大・次世代の舞踏の提示に努めている。

Kana Kitty began dancing independently without a teacher in order to explore her own expression. She has been invited to many national and international art festivals in Europe and abroad, and has performed in many films, including Ossan’s Love the Movie and DIR EN GREY’s music video, and performed at MUTEK in 2021 and 2022. She also performs with techno DJs, models for fashion brands and is involved in a wide range of other activities, striving to expand the recognition of butoh and present the next generation of butoh.

Butoh Dancer

Akane Watanabe

渡邉茜

3歳より湯原園子、花輪洋治の下で現代舞踊を学ぶ。桜美林大学にて木佐貫邦子にコンテンポラリーダンスを師事。伊藤キム、鈴木ユキオ、鈴木拓朗等多数演出家作品に出演。岩本大紀（山海塾）主宰、「伊邪那美」に所属し、舞踏家として活動している。2022年、伊邪那美「Concursio」がSAI DANCEFESTIVALにて First Prize Duo 部門受賞。

Studied contemporary dance under Sonoko Yuhara and Yoji Hanawa from the age of three. Studied contemporary dance under Kuniko Kisanuki at Ohbirin University. Has performed in works by numerous directors, including Kim Ito, Yukio Suzuki and Takuro Suzuki. As a butoh dancer, she belongs to the group Izanami, which is led by Taiki Iwamoto (Sankai Juku). In 2022, ‘Concursio’ by Izanami won the First Prize Duo category at the SA DANCEFESTIVAL.

Butoh Dancer

Natsuki

菜月

幼少期からクラシックバレエやストリートダンスまで幅広くダンス学ぶ。舞踏の表現の世界に感銘を受け、足を踏み入れる。様々な踊りを学びつつ、形に囚われない感性や感覚を大切にした独自の表現を築いている。内側から込み上げる想いを表現することを生き甲斐としている。表現者としての道を志し、石井則（山海塾）主宰、舞踏石井組に所属。

Studied a wide range of dance from childhood, from classical ballet to street dance.Impressed by the world of Butoh expression, she stepped into it. While learning various dances, she has built up her own unique style of expression, valuing sensitivity and feeling without being bound by form. She lives to express the feelings that come up from within.Aspiring to become an expressionist, she is a member of the Butoh Ishii Gumi, led by Norihito Ishii (Sankai Juku).

Butoh Dancer

Ami Ishi

石井あみ

幼少期からクラシックバレエを始め、現在はコンテンポラリーからストリートまで様々なジャンルを学びながら、自身の表現の方法を模索している。MISIA「Higher Love」や Best Artist「ブラックビスケッツ」などアーティストのバックダンサーやMVに多数出演。ワカバコーヒーのワークショップにて舞踏を研究中。かに座、コーヒーはまだ飲めない。

Ami Ishii started classical ballet as a child and is currently studying various genres, fromcontemporary to street dance, while seeking her own way of expression.She has performed as a back dancer for artists such as MISIA’s ‘Higher Love’ and Best Artist’s ‘Black Biscuits’ and in many music videos. She is currently studying Butoh in a workshop at Wakaba Coffee.

Director/Choreographer

Kohei Wakaba

若羽幸平

2004年〜2020年まで大駱駝艦に所属。カンパニー作品に出演のほか、宮本亜門作品「金閣寺」「耳なし芳一」唐十郎作品「海星」赤堀雅秋作品「大逆走」等に出演。フリーとなった現在は「ワカバコーヒー」を主催するほか、東京都認定ヘブンアーティスト「ネコ☆ソギ」としても活動中。代表作「なにものにもなれなかったものたちへ」は数々の賞を受賞。国内外のフェスティバルに招致され、“beyond 舞踏”と評されている。2023年に発表した「おどらない、からだ」ではチラシのデザインも手掛け、おちらしさんアワード7位に。

He was a member of Dairakudakan from 2004 to 2020. In addition to performing in the company's productions, he appeared in “Kinkakuji” and “Hoichi without ears” by Amon Miyamoto, “Kaisei” by Juro Kara, and “Dai Gyakuso” by Masaaki Akabori, among others. Currently freelance, he organizes “Wakaba Coffee” and is also active as “Neko Sogi,” a Heaven artist certified by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. His representative work “Those who ain't damn nobody” has received several awards and was invited to perform international festivals. In 2023, he designed the flyer for “A body will not dance” which won 7th place in the Oirashi-san Award.