May 17, PS21 Pavilion Theater

The Dying Swan and Its Cause of Death
Two genre-defying works that illustrate the groundbreaking directions of Japan’s current dance scene. Celebrated Japanese ballerina Hana Sakai dances the timeless Fokine classic, then plunges into visionary playwright/director Toshiki Okada’s comic unraveling of the motif, plodding, wobbling, and musing aloud about why she, the swan, has to die and what it’s like to dance the part. Udai Shika accompanies with Saint-Saëns’ Le Cygne for solo cello in this hilarious mashup from chelfitsch Theater Company that also raises timely environmental issues. With Moto Takahashi’s all-woman dance group, MWMW, performing Encounter, challenging gender norms with their stunning hip-hop technique and ensemble movements.
Duration: 1 hour