Notes from New York

Looking Back & Looking Forward

Season's Greetings! 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese Zodiac, known for its dynamic, energetic, and passionate nature, encouraging bold moves, innovation, and adventure, with characteristics of freedom, independence, and charisma, making it a time for pursuing ambitions and embracing change.

I love this idea of "making it a time for pursuing ambitions and embracing change". We all need to move forward!!! I started out MY new year (became senior citizen on 12/1) working with talented dancer/choreographer Connie Shiau for 2 weeks residency at Baryshnikov Arts Center. Her new creation with beautiful collaborators - Huiwang Zhang(dancer), Sugar Vandal(composer) and Nico Li(rehearsal director).

It was a beautiful residency, and we had a great feedbacks from many, we loved it especially from Misha!!! He had many great questions and ideas shared with us!!! BAC offered and will present Connie Shiau's work, that should be in Fall!!! pic: Connie, Misha and me

2025 Highlight -- What we did... SP His one year sabbatical was a great rejuvenated one. His research went well and he also worked with the Hamburg Ballet's National Youth Ballet company several times. He taught in Amsterdam in Summer too! SP worked with National Youth Ballet many times through out his sabbatical year. He assisted John Neumeier in re-envision "Shall We Dance" which SP was one of the original dancers in with the Hamburg Ballet. John was the former artistic director of the Hamburg Ballet over 50 years. Photo from "Shall We Dance" ©︎Kiran West SP also set José Limón work "THE UNSUNG" on them, and beside their many performances, they danced "THE UNSUNG" at the 50th Nijinsky Gala! In April, SP choreographed "A CONVERSATION WITH KEYBOARD” for Diana Byer and Dancers. And SP worked with the Fulbright Program this year as a reviewer. The Fulbright was started in 1946, is an important program supporting students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers, scientists, and artists. AND Miki with Dance On Ensemble My dancing (yes I am still dancing a little) with Dance On Ensemble, SP could join me to San Sebastián and Paris. @San Sebastián MELLOWING (ch. Christos Papadopoulos), took us to Innsbruck(Austria), Tenerife(Spain),Stuttgart(Germany) Kalamata(Greece) and Abu Dhabi. STORY by Merce Cunningham and Martha's DEEP SONG I love working with artists in this project! Lucinda Childs Talking about working with Dance On Ensemble's beautiful artists, this year I have a great pleasure and honor working with one and only Lucinda Childs! This is definitely THE highlight for me. We had 2 residencies, Lyon Opera Theater and Choreographic Center N in Le Havre(both France), and premiered in Berlin, Germany in July. STEIN * Please visit this site, you can watch the trailer!!! Lucinda is also on stage with me!!! Used Gertrude Stein's play, PHOTOGRAPH, beautiful image (set, video&music by Hans Peter Kuhn) projected entire mid screen, I am in front and Lucinda is behind the screen. The concert includes her early works - a part of the program series of "ENCOUNTERS". @jubalbattistiphotography We performed STEIN at Radialsystem, Berlin (Germany) and Bratislava (Slovakia). I am excited that we are going to Angers(France) in March. I went to Ljubliana, Slovenia (beautiful and fairytale like town) with Making Dances Everyghing/Nothing. I danced Martha's Deep Song(1937) with installation above me by Tim Etchells, English choreographer/director and Ljubljana Story by Merce Cunningham. Tim used words from Lorca's Deep Song. "Everything in the world is broken. Nothing but silence remains". Those words are projected in different configurations above me. Each messages make sense. and it is so presently NOW. I also took a very short trip to Japan this Summer, to visit my friend Kaori (Deputy Director of Development at La MaMa) her home town,Wakayama Prefecture. She took Tomoko & I around. We visited beautiful world heritage Niutsuhime Shrine, my friend Teragaki Ume Plum Farm I wanted to visit for many years!!! and Tomoko's friend Horikawa-ya to learn his soy sauce making. Now SP is back to The Hartt School Dance, had a HARTT DANCES - fall concert and it was a great concert!!! Martha's Diversion of Angels was on and it was a part of Graham's 100th anniversary (GRAHAM100 Partner Event) I taught Graham school's Winter Intensive (technique and repertory), workshop at Princeton University, Sub few classes at Ailey School and taught workshop at Taylor Dance West. *STEIN is supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds. With the kind support of Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon. With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.

2026 New Year SP will be working on Spring Repertory Project - 2 choreographers are coming to create new works, and that is before the school starts, so dancers could experience what will be like working in the company. I think this is a great way to experience "What is like to work as a dancer". Take class in the morning and rehearsal for hours!!! SP will be directing, teaching and creating work at Trentino Music Festival - Dance Studio , it will be June 21-July 14 in beautiful Dolomite mountain area in Italy. If you know young dancers seeking for great Summer program, let them know!!! And will focus on creating my work. I started my solo concert series. I created "Prologue" in 2014. This is a part of the work I always wanted to make - my relationship with my mother, dance and ..... I am not sure where this will go, but La MaMa and Kino Saito with NYSCA grant, make possible for me to be working on this. Kino Saito 3 week Residency is June 29-July 20. I am scared and excited both but IT"S TIME!!! Fire Horse!!! I will have few trips with "Story", "Mellowing" and "STEIN". Please check below and If you are near me, let me know!!! <Performances> Jan 6 & 7 Köln STORY at Museum Ludwig, Köln, German Feb 18 & 19 Mellowing at National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Canada March 7 STEN in Le Quarts, Brest, France March 12, STEIN at Le Quai, Centre Chorégraphique in Angers, France March 17 & 18 Mellowing at Le Carreau du Temple, Paris, France March 21 Mellowing at Festspielhaus St. Pölten I St. Pölten *Martha Graham Dance Company is having 100th anniversary year at City Center Season in April, 2026 We both are probably go to Hamburg Youth Ballet this May. I to work on Martha's work on them!!! Very excited!!! SO STAY TUNED!!! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ AND We wish you A GREAT 2026!!! with happiness, good health and many smiles. Love from SP and Miki

Autumn of Art -----芸術の秋

Hartt Dances Fall 2025 Yes this is the time for Fall Concert at The Hartt School Dance Division. Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 7:30pm Friday, November 14, 2025 - 7:30pm Saturday, November 15, 2025 - 2:00pm, 7:30pm @ Millard Auditorium, University of Hartford 200 Bloomfield Avenue West Hartford, CT 06117 Ticket: $10 General Admission ***They are streaming on Saturdays! https://bit.ly/harttstream Works are: Le Corsaire/La Bayadére (Excerpts) Marius Petipa staged by Hilda Molares Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham Passeri (Re-Premiere) by Debra Ryder All In! (World Premiere) by Katie Stevinson-Nollet Streaming ( Saturdays ) <Announcement> Hartt Dance, named “Best College Dance Program” by DanceUS for the past six years in a row, brings to the stage its fall program of classical and contemporary works. The selected repertoire features the award-winning dancers of The Hartt School Dance Division in four works representing both classical and contemporary choreography in Ballet and Modern dance. Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels”, to an original score by Norman Dello Joio, premiered in 1948 in New London, CT. It is a classic of the modern dance idiom depicting 3 aspects of love and is currently in the repertory of the Martha Graham Dance Company and ballet companies around the world. It is being restaged by Kim Stroud, a former Graham Company member and currently on faculty at Hartt. The renowned 19th century Ballet choreographer, Marius Petipa, is represented in excerpts from Le Corsaire and La Bayadere. These are being staged by faculty member Hilda Morales who danced these works with American Ballet Theater and Pennsylvania Ballet. Debra Ryder, a former principal dancer with The Hartford Ballet is recreating her work “Passeri” which is a contemporary ballet “en pointe” taking inspiration from the avian form, Passerine. And lastly, Katie Stevinson-Nollet, former dancer and founding director of Full Force Dance Theater is busy creating a new work in the contemporary dance idiom featuring 18 dancers from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year student body. Hartt School Dance Director, Stephen Pier, shares, “In our current culture, as words become a less trustworthy and more divisive mode of communication, we can find joy, truth, and deep connection in humanity’s most elemental and honest form of communication, Dance!” The Hartt School Dance Division, #universityofhartford, #harttschool, #marthagrahamdancecompany * * * * * * * * * * * * Martha's Diversion of Angels is one of my first work that I learn when I was a young dancer at the Graham School. I danced all except a lady in White(usually tall person). Can't wait to see them dance!!! You can also check online here. Dance ListingsPerformances & Events * * * * * * * * * * * * I am about to leave for Abu Dhabi! Mellowing is by Greek Choreographer Christos Papadopoulos. We have been traveling with this work a quite a bit. All artists in Dance On Ensemble are amazing professionals. I am so lucky to be working with them. STEIN is the work Lucinda Childs choreographed and we are on stage together! Story is a work Merce Cunningham choreographed in 1963, and this is one of the first "chance operated work"!!! A lot of chances(of course), improvisations, in the moment kind of work. every time is different. If you can catch these works, I will see you!!! Miki's Tour Schedule: MELLOWING Sat, November 8,2025 Show in Abu Dhabi @Cultural Foundation Making Dances : Story + neverending story and Deep Song Tuesday November 25, 2025 Show in Ljubljana @CoFestival <2026> STORY Tues & Wed January 6 & 7 @ Museum Ludwig, Köln, Germany STEIN Sat, March 7,2026 Show in Brest STEIN Thu March 12,2026 Show in Angers MELLOWING Tue & Wed March 17&18,2026 Shows in PARIS @Le Carreau du Temple * * * * * * * * * * * * I also will be working with Jie-Hung CONNIE SHIAU at her BAC residency in December!!! She is a young very creative artist/dancer. Very excited! Enjoy the Autumn color all around us and have a wonderful November!!! Love from NY, miki

It's JULY

It's JULY! The life of Jean of Arc at NOTRE-DAME de FOURVIERE in Lyon, France This Summer, SP and I are traveling a lot. Right now, SP is in Hamburg, this is his 4th time during his sabbatical. He set José Limón’s “Unsung” on Youth Ballet Company – Hamburg Ballet’s junior company. And also he is helping John Neumeier to re-create the work he was in originally when he was in the Hamburg Ballet. I have a picture of this work – well I think this is from a photo shoot. He is having a great time in Hamburg!!! and we are in Europe but not together so we connect with FaceTime(WhatsApp) The last newsletter, I mentioned that SP worked with Nagisa Tagawa, created contemporary solo on him. And he received a Grand Prix at ADCIIBC competition. Congratulations!!! SP is in back, WhatsApp, SP with Nagisa Dance On Ensemble As many of you know, I am dancing with this company. <The DANCE ON ENSEMBLE for dancers over 40, founded in Berlin in 2015, shows that there is another way and that everyone wins: dancers, dance and society. Experienced dancers have the ability to tap into the mental and emotional depths of choreographic material. They are present with their entire lived experience. And their physical intelligence and charisma bring a new dimension to the performance that can increase the audience’s enjoyment of a piece.> I love this company and all dancers in this group. And I am learning a lot. We had performances of Christos Papadopoulos, Greek choreographer’s work “Mellowing” in San Sebastian(Spain) and Paris(France). 　　 　Stage photos by Jubal Battisti We have been traveling a lot with this work. Many years ago I came to San Sebastian with Graham Company. This time SP joined me. Friends who moved to Nice last Summer came to join us in Paris, and we met Tancredo(we danced together in Graham), Makoto and Robert. Makoto was a dancer who helped me a lot when I move to NY. He lived at the Chelsmore Apartment and when I moved in, he taught me many things including cooking! And now he lives in Paris!! I visited them few times in the past, Robert knows history and they took us to the restaurant where Gertrude Stein, Picasso and other artists hang out!!! Paris is still one of my favorite city!!! In Paris, we went to Symphonie to see Víkingur Ólafsson perform. SP was the director of mentoring at the Juilliard where Víkingur was there on MFA and SP was his mentor. Now he is a most celebrated pianist whose touch is so sensitive and warm. I really love his performance. He received Grammy award on his Bach's Goldberg Variation. TENERIFE I went to Sant Cruz de Tenerife November 2023, I danced Martha’s Deep Song at the TEA museum where Javier curates, then SP joined me to have small vacation. Small island but there are 4 seasons, and not too hot( it was hot but not like 40C-110F). Close to Africa, this is the closest to Africa that I have been. One day to visit Africa. And With Dance On Ensemble, we performed this huge/beautiful theater! We saw an Opera production of Manon in 2023, and I have never imagined that I will be perform here. Amazing place. And this time, we saw Javier performed his work. He made this work, costume and sound design. Very talented and special artist!! NYC We went to see many performances in NYC. Every time, we will see some friends. It is so nice to reconnect with them!!! 1:Riley Watts, Jacqulyn Buglisi and SP 2:Former students now beautiful friends 3: Javon Jackson at Village Vanguard Riley Watts and Brigel Gjoka developed Forsyth's DUO into a beautiful work on 14 dancers. Many for former students are now our friends. It is so nice to see them - beautiful human beings!!! And our friend Javon Jackson's Village Vanguard concert was amazing. I lived on 15th Street on 7th Ave and remember this jazz club. Very special place. Many famous Jazz recordings were recorded here! Taylor West is the new home for Paul Taylor Dance Company and school. I taught basic Graham technique class. One dancer told me "I thought Graham was painful, but your approach is organic". Well, if it is painful, who want to dance??? STEIN Last three weeks I was at Lyon Opera Ballet Studio working with Lucinda Childs. Lucinda is one of most important postmodern choreographer/dancer. She was a part of Judson Church movement. And yes we are making "STEIN". "STEIN" is of course Gertrude Stein. Her poem "Photograph" is our inspiration for this work, with artist Hans Peter Kuhn. I am having a great time creating this work with such an iconic person. I will write more about this experience once we premiere! We will premiere this work at Radialsystem on July 24-27 in Berlin. If you are in Berlin during that time, let me know!!! Photo LC&MO by Jubal Battisti My friend came to visit!!! We went to the Basilica de Fourviere, Cathedral de St. Jean, Old City…. I was in Lyon with Graham Company 30 years ago. And remember this Basilica. Beautiful church on the top of the hill – yes very steep! High hills… we took a bus. This church is filled with mosaics. 30 years ago, I was amazed by these mosaics. One is the life of Jean of Arc. Interesting to see many animal figures at this church, and I thought it was unusual. So I wanted to visit again. It was beautiful then, and it is beautiful now too. French sweet is hard to resist... I was very good but at the breakfast, I get a madeleine and that is my treat!!! for my lunch!!! 30 years ago, at the theater where we were performing, we got on an elevator, and met Pina Bausch! that was one of highlight of Lyon!!! Well, I am in Stuttgart, in 2 days for COLOURS International Dance Festival, I will be traveling to Le Havre to work on the production of "STEIN" and going to Kalamata (International Dance Festival-July 18&19), Greece with "Mellowing" then Berlin to premiere!!! I will write soon again. I know I can keep going but I will stop right here!!! See you soon!!! Keep cool for this hot Summer!!! INFO_STEIN Production: DANCE ON / Bureau Ritter. In cooperation with Radialsystem, Berlin. Coproduction: CCNR Rillieux-la-pape – Yuval Pick; Le Phare - Centre chorégraphique national du Havre Normandie / direction Fouad Boussouf, as part of the Accueil-Studio Programme; Fonds Transfabrik – German-French fund for the performing arts. Supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds. With the kind support of Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon. With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. DANCE ON is a project by BUREAU RIT

Fall 24

Fall went so fast... October/November We visited Japan together. It has been so long that we visited together. *Early morning LGA, SP in Shinjuku Station, Looking down Kita Kyushu For the first time, we went to see where my mother grew up and also where my father was stationed during his Navy time. The last time I visited this area was….when I was about 15 years old. Arrived at Kita Kyushu Airport, took a bus to Kusami, then took Nippo Main Line to Shindenbaru. *Shindenbaru Station I remember this name from my mother. So I wanted to visit this place. We got off the station, well, we didn’t see anything that you think of “station”… stores, café, restaurants, shops… NONE. Karita, Yukuhashi, Shindenbaru... all stations are kind of same. I guess you can take train or a car to go bigger town... Navy base then is now an air base for Japan Self-Defense Forces. My father’s friend’s son, Fumihisa and his son took us around. Our fathers both stationed at Tsuiki Air Base (TAB). https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/tsuiki/kengaku.html *Photos are not allowed but special treat!!! R is Tsuiki Naval Air Corps Monument(which my father's group donated) He arranged for us to see inside the base – Aviation Reference Museum, Control tower, Memorial monument. TAB was great to visit. The memorial Library, all materials were contributed by soldiers and their family. no photo allowed! This was the special day that we watched Blue Impulses taking off. Many fans were at observation area to taking pictures. Before visiting TAB, we had lunch at Buzen then visited a bunker trench close to the base. *Bunker is HUGE!!! For the dinner, we went to Chikushi-Tei (https://chikushitei.com). This is a very beautiful place to have dinner, also where many of pilots like my father had a dinner before they went out. *Beautiful Chikushi-Tei. Many Kamikaze Pilots(Special Attack Force Members) had the last dinner before they went out. Next day, we visited U-Sa Shrine. Head priest took us around and show us their rebuilding of the main building. *Beautiful U-Sa Shrine - beauty everywhere Then we took Shinkan Sen Bullet Train, we had Eki Ben(lunch) on the train. Finally we are visiting Kobe! Alessandra and Kent are in Japan!! She is teaching for few years now and I promised to visit and finally able to do so. We saw her class at Kobe Women’s College, visited Kobe port and spent beautiful time with them!!! *Kobe with friends and meeting Budo master Akira Hino Back to Tokyo, we met Akira Hino – Budo master. This was one of the important thing for Stephen for his research. He interviewed him, and we stayed to watch his class after. It was incredible. For me, this trip was important that I needed to figure out burial of my brother’s ashes. He passed away this April. I could not go home, so my dearest friends took care of everything… I can’t not thank them enough. Sometimes, living far from home, people like me will encounter this sad situation. We didn't have much time but managed to meet with few friends. And we met with NY children! When they were in school, for holidays, they stayed with us. We have many of them who keep in touch with us. These two are like our children and now good friends!!! *This is crazy, restaurant's name is Brooklyn and we took this and look like they are standing at the Brooklyn Bridge!! We saw Keiko Sato performed with Miyako Kato - Somei Satoh's music! and Saburo Teshigawara’s performance at his space in Ogikubo, managed to get tickets for teamLab’s Planet- that was an interesting experience. The last day, we visited New National Theater in Tokyo and watched dress rehearsal of Ballet company’s Sleeping Beauty. My friend Sandy Kaufmann asked me to set Martha’s Primitive Mysteries and they had performances. They danced beautifully!!! It is a beautiful work and means a lot to me to see young dancers going thru with this work. And the poster for the Hartt Dance!!! It is from “Suite of dances from Canticle for Innocent Comedian” which I configure this Spring!!! And Berlin! Dance On Ensemble collaborated with Soloist Ensemble- Kaleidoskop and we performed at the Berlinisch Gallery. It was an amazing experience. We took over the entire museum/gallery, pair up with dancers/musicans and my partner is Mari Sawada, a Japanese parents and born in Essen. She and I share many of Japanese ideas!!! And the work is called “ A Sky Like A Wall” inspired by the Lebanese artist, Rabih Mroué’s vision on the Tower of Babel. Stephen and I went to Hamburg, visited great friends there, and we attended General production and Stephen stayed for the premiere of the Hamburg Ballet. We also watched Youth Ballet Company’s rehearsal. This is the company Stephen set José Limón’s work. And they look great! Watching young dancers now, I am so glad that I am not competing to dance in this generation! Now I am back in NY, Stephen left for Houston, San Diego and LA for audition tour for Hartt School Dance. And getting ready for holidays. Hope all of you are well & healthy. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! * * * * * UPCOMING EVENTS * * * * * December 20 (Friday) <Performance> Yuko Fujiyama @ Roulett, Brooklyn, NY Set 1 is at 8pm so my group will be at 9pm. I will be performing with Yuko Fujiyama at Roulette (509 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn. It is a part of Contemporary East series. - 2025 Jan/Feb <Performance> 2/1, 2025 Tanzbiennale Heidelberg Ottawa ----- TBConfirm soon March 16 <Performance> Mellowing @ San Sebastián March 20-22 <Performance> Mellowing @ Paris Le 104 May/June/July *Working with Lucinda Childs for Dance On Ensemble will be very exciting!!! We will premiere on July 25-27 at Radialsystem, Berlin Stephen will be at Trentino Music Festival June 22-July 17, 2025 for the second year!!! If you know any young dancers, let them know and apply early!!! Linktree

Halloween at MoMA

Event at MoMA on Halloween night.Andre Breton's surrealism Manifesto's 100year anniversarySurrealism exhibition with some of my favorite works