“…he dances his emotions and says more with the movement of his fingers than many actors do with reams of dialogue.” Louis B Hobson, Calgary Herald
Created and performed by Kunji Mark Ikeda, Sansei: The Storyteller examines one of Canada’s darkest moments. On December 7, 1941, an attack on Pearl Harbour triggered the internment and dispossession of tens of thousands of Japanese-Canadians living along Canada's west coast. Through an engaging blend of dance, spoken word, historical audio, family recordings, and unexpected humour, Ikeda weaves an illuminating tale that is profoundly personal. Sansei: The Storyteller offers the artist’s observations about the internment, his discovery of where he came from, and how his family navigated their histories. It also invites audiences to reflect on the persistent racism and othering of immigrant communities in our society. Ikeda was nominated for two Betty Mitchell (Calgary Theatre) Awards for his performances of Sansei: The Storyteller at High Performance Rodeo in 2019, and the show was also a Best of Fest winner at the Calgary Fringe 2014 and nominated for a 2015 Critter (Calgary Critics) Award for Best Solo Performance.
Length: 55 minutes
Touring Company: 1 artist and 1 SM
Cloudsway Dance Theatre is dedicated to fostering well-being through the performance and training of dance theatre. Artistic Director Kunji Mark Ikeda has developed a unique methodology combining story, imagination, and choreography from which he creates original performances. Ikeda is a member of the DSW Dance Action Group, has taught at the University of Calgary and the Rosebud School of the Arts, and served as Artistic Director of MoMo Dance Theatre. His work has been produced across Canada.
