San Diego Dance Theater is proud to host Mademoiselle Cinema, a dynamic dance company from Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1993 by choreographer Naoko Ito. This summer’s Live Arts Fest celebrates international collaboration through "A Woman’s Journey (Onna wa Tabi de Aru)," a moving work inspired by the historical experience of Japanese “picture brides”—women who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century with only a photograph of their prospective husbands, in search of new beginnings and uncertain futures. "A Woman’s Journey": "After spending ten years overseas, my grandmother—who lost her husband in America—returned to Japan to entrust her two children to her family. Yet she soon went back to America to work. In 1937, after two decades on that distant shore, she finally left America behind. One can only imagine the tumult of emotions that compelled her to choose homecoming as the ominous drumbeats of war drew near. Now, at the age of eighty, I find myself on a quest to understand what it truly means 'to become an immigrant' in place of the story she never told. This is a narrative dedicated to my 100 year old mother." Mademoiselle Cinema is celebrated for its distinctive dance-theater style, characterized by grounded, low-centered movement, rich visual design, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Blending costume, set, music, and occasional theatrical and cinematic interludes, the company’s performances are drawn from memories of girlhood and the everyday lives of women. Free from conventional modern dance technique, Mademoiselle Cinema creates original works that explore the deeply personal histories each dancer carries within her body, expressing the emotional and physical realities of contemporary life. As the modern age is often described as “the age of women,” Ito consciously works exclusively with female dancers, crafting choreography that weaves personal memory into collective narrative. Since its international debut in Paris in 1999, Mademoiselle Cinema has brought Japanese contemporary dance to global audiences, with appearances across Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. The company has performed at renowned festivals including the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (2008), the Avignon Festival (2013), and the Gryfin6 International Theatre Festival in Poland (2011), where they received the Audience Award. In recognition of her innovative work, Naoko Ito was honored with the New Artist Award by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 2008. Please join us in welcoming Mademoiselle Cinema to San Diego for an unforgettable performance that honors history, memory, and the enduring strength of women. Mademoiselle Cinema on Facebook / Instagram
