Accumulated Layout | while going to a condition

Compagnie S20 (Japan) | choreographer: Hiroaki Umeda

A multidisciplinary artist or a one-man show? It’s up to you to decide…After a scholarship with Philippe Decouflé, Hiroaki Umeda and his projects have become in these past couple of years absolute hits at dance festivals around the world, while critics describe his work as a feast for all senses….Find out why!

Hiroaki Umeda

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Accumulated Layout

Choreographer: Hiroaki Umeda

Dancer: Hiroaki Umeda

Sound: S20

Lighting Design: S20

Production: Théâtre national de Chaillot, S20 with La Chaufferie

Duration: 25min

while going to a condition

Choreographer: Hiroaki Umeda

Dancer: Hiroaki Umeda

Sound: S20

Images: S20

Duration: 23:45

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about the performances

Described as experiences that redefine the sensation of space and other sensory cognitions, where a performer, alone on stage, is able to exude an unusual and powerful magnetism, ‘Accumulated Layout’ and ‘While Going to a Condition’ borrow from hip-hop and butoh, combining fluidity with jerkiness. In ‘While Going to a Condition’, time, punctuated by silences, dilates and triggers a sense of disorentiation, while video, used as a source of light, creates a magnetic force. In ‘Accumulated Layout’, working exclusively with light, the artist sculpts space. Umeda’s work, both minimal and radical, subtle and violent, is deemed as deeply engaged with the traditions and contemporary reality of Japan. Living and working in Japan, Hiroaki Umeda is a singularly gifted multi-disciplinary artist, a choreographer, dancer, sound, image and lighting designer, effectively a one-man showcase and team.

about the choreographer

Hiroaki Umeda was born in 1977 and currently lives and works in Tokyo.

He studied photography at Nihon University, Japan and decided to start dancing at the age of 20 having trained in classical ballet and hip-hop.

In 2000 Hiroaki Umeda founded his own company « S20 » and has made the following pieces since : Ni (2001), while going to a condition (2002), Looming (2003) and Finore (2003), which have all been presented at cutting-edge dance festivals : Japan Dance festival (Korea), Yokohama Dance Collection (Japan), Uovo e Contemporanea (Italy), FIND Festival (Canada)…

“while going to a condition” was presented at the Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales (France) and was hailed as “a visual and sensorial experience… The discovery of a young artist, both original and promising.”

After a residency at the Chaufferie (Philippe Decouflé’s rehearsal space), Hiroaki Umeda performed the new work Accumulated Layout in 2007 at the Théâtre National de Chaillot, Paris.

Hiroaki Umeda also presented in 2007 the new version of Duo at the International Festival Via in Maubeuge, a solo performance where dancer meets his image. This season, he performed in France, Europe and the USA.

Hiroaki Umeda is a pluridisciplinary artist : choreographer, dancer, sound, image and lighting designer. His work is both minimal and radical, subtle and violent, and very much in touch with his contemporary Japanese roots.