Izumi Ashizawa Performance

 

Izumi Ashizawa Performance seeks cultural collaborations through its original performance languages. Originally founded in 2002 and specialized in cross-cultural performance-making, Izumi Ashizawa Performance  explores the physical story-telling with unconventional puppetry and object animation. The company values the interdisciplinary collaboration process with dancers, actors, composers, musicians, sculptors.  Based on Japanese physical performance techniques, Ashizawa’s movement techniques are taught around the world, including the U.S.A., Japan, Estonia, Norway, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Iran, Australia, the Cayman Islands, and Peru. The original performances by Izumi Ashizawa Performance were performed in various countries: The Blue Rocks (Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania, Fadjr International Theatre Festival in Iran, ManInFest in Romania, Arion Tokyo Summer Music Festival in Japan, International Arts and Ideas Festival and NYCInternational Fringe Festival in the U.S.A., Documentary and Excerpt of this show were broadcast in National Public Television of Japan BS "Today's World"), Bakeneko Kyosokyoku (Novo-Siberian Transit,Russia), Gilgamesh (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and USF, U.S.A., Excerpt from this show along with Ashizawa's interview was broadcast in PBS's TV series "Invitation to World Literature" Episode 1: Gilgamesh) Le Morte de La Fontaine (Woodford Folk Festival,Australia), Haoma and the Warrior (Iran), Zahak (International Women Theatre Festival, Iran), iKilL (Capital Fringe Festival, U.S.A.), Minotaur (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, U.S.A., and IIFUT Festival, Iran), Dreams in the Arms of the Binding Lady (Danza Nueva, Peru, Municipal Theatre in Piura, Peru, Municipal Theatre in Trujillo, Peru, J.F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, Capital Fringe Festival, Washington DC), The Kojiki (НАТФИЗ Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria), Kwaidan (Spooky Action Theatre, Washington DC, Weber Fine Arts Center, NE), Mysterious Lake (Staller Center for the Arts, NY, Long Island Children’s Museum, NY, Japan Society, NYC). Le Sentir des Reve (Maison de la Theatre, Montreal, Canada), I Cried Because I Had No Shoes Until… (Physical Fest, Liverpool, the U.K.), The Little Goddess (Estonian National Drama Theatre, Estonia). Director Izumi Ashizawa won numerous awards including the Medal of Honor for Cultural Excellence from the City of Piura in Peru, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Faculty Achievement  Award Excellence in Directing and Technology, Capital Fringe Director’s Award, UNESCO-Aschberg Award, IIFUT Best Performance Award, Tehran Municipality Culture and Arts Organization Award, Australian Government Fund for the Arts, and Norwegian Cultural Fund.

 

Artistic Director Izumi Ashizawa serves as a faculty at the State University of New York Stony Brook. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.