Company Information
連翹奏/RenGyoSoh is a multi-award winning New York-based Butoh theatre group which founded by a Japanese artist, Yokko in 2014. It dedicates to create and produce a new work through collaborations, organize an event such as UNFIX NYC, and offer training opportunities. Since 2021, RenGyoSoh created Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) program to open the possibilities to develop a new work by early career artist.
Mission Statement
Our primal mission is to cultivate new forms of theater through collaborations and synthesis of variety of disciplines. Our intention to be a cultural bridge and reflection of our ever evolving culture, and constantly to challenge to our society, our audience, and our own limitations.
Environment Policy
As a participant in the global arts and creative and cultural sector, we are aware of our impact on the environment and recognize the need to be responsible for this impact. We are committed to the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle, proactively working to minimize our environmental impact and promote more sustainable ways of working.
Company History
RenGyoSoh’s prior incarnation was as JPAC (Japanese Performing Arts Company), which Yokko founded in Oregon in 2008. With JPAC, she performed her first work, Blue Sky -There is a Will; There is a Way- combining Japanese classical dance, Japanese stage combat, contemporary dance and drama. JPAC also trained company members and held workshops for local communities to share Japanese culture around Eugene, OR. Yokko received the "International Understanding Award" through JPAC's work in 2008. During 2011 and 2012 she performed for NICODA, and presented her solo piece, Hope From the Chaos (Solo) and duet piece KIZUNA (Connection) with Michael Billingsley for multiple venues in NYC.
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where they studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not their main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, NY based physical theatre company, hired Yokko as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where Yokko played Clytemnestra. That was Yokko's actual entrance into Butoh practice. Yokko has studied with Yumiko Yoshioka, Yoshito Oho, Seisaku, Vangeline, Diego Pinon and more. They slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made Yokko to create their own group, KAI (A Japanese word, group) to broaden their training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. Yokko named their Kai, 連翹奏/RenGyoSoh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary in 2014. Yokko brought the first creation, Butoh Medea to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 with the company guest director, Brian Rhinehart, a writer, Sean Michael Welch, Co-choreographer, Jordan Rosin, lighting designer, Derek Van Heel, and Costume designer, Deepsikha Chatterjee. Since then Butoh Medea has been touring Europe and North America. Meanwhile, Yokko had developed an ensemble work, SHINKA (2016-2019) which received multi-awards. During the pandemic, the company shifted online format, and held trainings, productions and events. In 2021, a director, Saki Kawamura joined the company as the associate artistic director after a year of her internship and Butoh training with Yokko. In 2022, Saki became the co-program director of Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) with a lighting / set designer, Chase Kniffin.
Yokko was introduced to Butoh in Eugene Oregon, where they studied Theatre Arts in 2007, however it was not their main interest yet. In 2011, The Ume Group, NY based physical theatre company, hired Yokko as their cast for their production, Butoh Electra, where Yokko played Clytemnestra. That was Yokko's actual entrance into Butoh practice. Yokko has studied with Yumiko Yoshioka, Yoshito Oho, Seisaku, Vangeline, Diego Pinon and more. They slowly and firmly started falling in love with Butoh. This made Yokko to create their own group, KAI (A Japanese word, group) to broaden their training, and create a new style of work to share by collaborating with other artists. Yokko named their Kai, 連翹奏/RenGyoSoh and held the opening ceremony in April 12th at ABC Sanctuary in 2014. Yokko brought the first creation, Butoh Medea to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 with the company guest director, Brian Rhinehart, a writer, Sean Michael Welch, Co-choreographer, Jordan Rosin, lighting designer, Derek Van Heel, and Costume designer, Deepsikha Chatterjee. Since then Butoh Medea has been touring Europe and North America. Meanwhile, Yokko had developed an ensemble work, SHINKA (2016-2019) which received multi-awards. During the pandemic, the company shifted online format, and held trainings, productions and events. In 2021, a director, Saki Kawamura joined the company as the associate artistic director after a year of her internship and Butoh training with Yokko. In 2022, Saki became the co-program director of Artists' Lab: Asobi-Ba (Playground) with a lighting / set designer, Chase Kniffin.
