To Belong/Suwung, To Belong-cyclonicdream-
From Chino Cultural Complex in Nagano prefecture, NUS Arts Festival 2014 in Singapore Dance New Air 2014 in Tokyo, Indonesian Tour 2014 in Jakarta and Solo

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2014, To Belong /Suwung is her production of the fourth series in integrating Indonesian and Japanese concepts.
Kitamura has been investigating the boundaries to "transcend" dance through the eastern philosophy of life cycle and its energy. Through means such as Japanese and Indonesian martial arts, she has focused on the action and reaction exerted from dynamic bodily movements and energy through motion. Also traditional dance from the two cultures provide a spiritual conversation with the "unseen," and such thematic concepts are explored through the body, and in this uniquely designed space.
The music is designed by Yasuhiro Morinaga who incorporates various fieldwork recordings including capturing the voice of Slamet Gundono, songs by Endah Laras, and hip-hop music by Marzuki Mohamad amongst over 100 other tracks taken from different resources. The visual art (video) adds another dimension to the audience's view, using graphic images and animations, and recreating the concept of a journey from one place to another that is also described by the corporal movements of the dancers.
The work incorporates Indonesian and Japanese cultural concepts, various techniques, and tradition and modernity. While some aspects are in contrast to the other, there are also shared realistic mindset between the two cultures, such as the recurring natural disasters and its rebuilding process in the two particular nations. These ideas are shared with its audience through the artwork.

This work is dedicated to Slamet Gundono who has passed away on January 5, 2014. His presence and voice remains within our hearts.

To Belong/Suwung
Dance New Air 2014
3 (Fri) - 5(Sun), October 2014 Aoyama Round Theatre

To Belong/Suwung performance in Indonesia
16 (Sun) &17(Mon), December 2014 Geothe Haus in Jakarta
20 (Thu), December, 2014 Teater Besar ISI-SURAKARTA,in Solo

Choreography and Direction: Akiko Kitamura
Dramaturge and Direction: Yudi Ahmad Tajudin
Performers: Yudi Ahmad Tajudin, Endah Laras, Rianto, Kana Ote, Yuki Nishiyama, Lion Kawai, Luluk Ari, Akiko Kitamura
Video Image Supervisor: Akihiko Kaneko
Video Image and Dramaturge: Saki Yamada
Musical Director: Yasuhiro Morinaga
Music(Indonesia): Slamet Gundono, Danis Sugiyanto, Kill The DJ (Jogja Hip Hop Foundation) , Endah Laras, Panardi

Music(Japan): Maiko Ishii, Natsume Saiki, Taeko Kobayashi, Hidemi Takemoto, Hiroki Taniguchi
Musical Production: CONCRETE
Costumes: Kyoko Doumoto
Technical Director, Lighting and Set Design: Yuji Sekiguchi (balance, inc. DESIGN)
Production Management: Marie Takimoto
Co-Organizer: Office A/LB
Supported by: Asahi Group Arts Foundation, Zenkoku Zeirishi Kyoeikai Bunka Zaidan

To Belong/Suwung

About the Work
-How is it possible to dialogue with the invisible?
-Does it mean something is nonexistent if it is invisible andincognizable?

To Belong/Suwung consists of many questions. Led by the questions we have crossed the waters and had numerous conversations with "the other."

There, various physical expressions, contemporary dance, traditional dance, martial arts and physical memories of each dancer were mingled, and we have learned that dance is to "feel" and to transcend something through conversations.

By meeting with others, our communications produce a magnetic field of thrilling movements, which may be one of the phenomena of transcending oneself.

"Suwung" is a Javanese word meaning a sense of "feeling the existence of something although it is not visible."

With this work we try to reach for something invisible beyond the cognizance and visibility to pursue a dialogue. During the process we approach a new concept of time that is overlapped, repeated and revived and try to dialogue with the ancient times and the deceased in order to embark on a long journey to discover new ways to involve with others.

Indonesia x Japan International Co-production Premiere
To Belong –cyclonicdream–
<40th Year of ASEYAN – JAPAN Friendship and Cooperation>
28 (Thu) & 29 (Fri), November, 2013 Chino Cultural Complex

To Belong –cyclonicdream– performance in Singapore
NUS Arts Festival
18 (Tue) & 19 (Wed), March, 2014 UCC THEATRE

Director & Choreographer: Akiko Kitamura
Dramaturg: Yudi Ahmad Tajudin
Music Director: Yasuhiro Morinaga
Music: Slamet Gundono, Danis Sugiyanto, Kill The DJ (Jogja Hip Hop Foundation) , Endah Laras, Panardi

Music Production: CONCRETE
Video Director/Producer: Akihiko Kaneko
Video Producer / Dramaturg: Saki Yamada
Costume Design / Production: Kyoko Doumoto
Lighting / Art / Technical Director: Yuji Sekiguchi (balance, inc. DESIGN)
Artists: Yudi Ahmad Tajudin, Endah Laras, Kana Ote, Rianto, Yuki Nishiyama, Llon Kawai, Akiko Kitamura
Publicity: Makiko Tsuchiya (Reward Co. Ltd.)
Poster Design: Akihiko Kaneko
Production: Yoko Koyama (Office A/LB)

To Belong - dialogue -
From the World Premiere in Jakarta

To Belong is the first new project in three years from Akiko Kitamura, who began as a solo choreographer in April, 2010. It is a work of Asian international cooperation born from many years of performances around Japan and Indonesia. This version is based on first-hand experiences of Indonesian culture, climate and communication on a three-week residence in Jakarta in April 2012.

Beginning with the noble and gentle breeze of Java and the solid speedy movements of Tokyo, revised and refined in Kobe, we enter the world of Kitamura.

Traditional Javanese dance has been combined with trance, martial arts and contemporary Tokyo dance. The expression of mature dancers and the energy of young dancers compete and stimulate each other.

Asian Body: Fusion of multicultural Indonesia and Japan
Traditional Javanese dance has been combined with trance, martial arts and contemporary Tokyo dance. The expression of mature dancers and the energy of young dancers compete and stimulate each other.

To Belong performance in Jakarta, Indonesia
27(Fri)&28(Sat), April, 2012 Salihara Theater

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To Belong-dialogue- performance in Tokyo&Kobe ,Japan
21(Fri) -23(Sun), September, 2012 Theater TRAM
25(Tue), September, 2012 Art Theater dB Kobe

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Akiko Kitamura’s original choreography methodology contrasts with western physical expression by creating a physical dialogue with the complete absence of physical contact. In this piece, based on encounters with Indonesian culture, a journey into a new world has begun.

Slamet Gundono, multi-talented shadow puppeteer, Martinus Miroto, traditional dancer who specialises in mask performances, and Rianto, master of the traditional dance of Banyumas called “Lengger”, are artists of Wayang and Javanese dance who have developed traditional culture for modern expression. From Japan come Akiko Kitamura, brought up in Tokyo’s cultural mix, Masaharu Imazu, who has worked with top European dance companies, and Ruri Mitoh, who has given many performances from classic modern dance to contemporary dance works. Together they have built a work through communication between individuals from different genres, nationalities and backgrounds. Although this comes from a context of cultural exchange between Indonesia and Japan, they are aiming for something that will have meaning far beyond those two countries.

Using methods from contemporary Wayang in a performance rooted in Indonesian soil, Slamet Gundono tells the story of the death of his mother through songs and gestures. In a world where disasters and accidents happen, he draws people together through these songs with the theme of the loss of a loved one, the greatest of tragedies. He looks at how we can quietly face the healing of the human heart, and prays for recovery from despair. While religions and nationalities differ, the thoughts and physical actions of many people have a long, repeating history. Prayer is a dialogue with invisible beings and so too, perhaps, is song and dance.