Dance
KAORI SEKI Co. PUNCTUMUN
MukuMeku Mu
The weight of time and life unfolding in a world of quiet sounds
MukuMeku Mu combines several archaic Japanese words meaning “to squirm,” “to peel,” “to sprout,” and “to give birth,” denoting the beginning of life. This phrase, which evokes a mythical world preceding life as we know it, is the title of the latest work by KAORI SEKI Co. PUNCTUMUN, led by award-winning choreographer and dancer Kaori Seki.
Seki’s approach to dance is to “see the body as a collection of countless points and painstakingly explore the senses,” which also awakens our senses as viewers. The dancers sharply focus on each and every moment, slowly moving, tumbling, and wriggling, inviting us into a world where the span of each second is magnified. Surprisingly, there seems to be no sound at all, except for the occasional faint rustling in the distance. The audience becomes acutely aware as they watch the performance unfold. A permeating fragrance also acts as an intentional device to sharpen the senses. Gradually, as the dancers’ and audience’s senses resonate together, sounds and signs of life escalate. The experience may be one that invites you to confront the miracle of the present moment and grapple with the concepts of time and life.
10.22 (Fri) 19:00
10.23 (Sat) 16:30 ★
10.24 (Sun) 13:00
★Post-show Talk
Duration: 65 min
Doors open 30 min. prior to the performance.
Kaori Seki
Japan
KAORI SEKI Co. PUNCTUMUN was established by Kaori Seki in 2013 and has staged work in Japan and overseas. Through an interest in ecology of humans, animals, and plants as well as sensory functions and non-verbal communication, Seki’s works often attempt to effect a bodily sensation in the audience through visual perception and incorporate such elements as smell and other senses. In 2012, Seki was the winner of the French Embassy Prize for Young Choreographer at Yokohama Dance Collection EX 2012 for Hetero, co-choreographed with Teita Iwabuchi, and the Next Generation Choreographer Award at the Toyota Choreography Award 2012. Her other accolades include the Elsur Foundation New Face Award in 2013 and Japan Dance Forum Award 2016. She was a junior fellow at The Saison Foundation from 2014 to 2017. Since 2021 she is a Saison Fellow II.
Choreography, Direction: Kaori Seki
Dancers：Teita Iwabuchi, Masataka Uchiumi, Kenji Osako, Yu Goto,
Neon Sugimoto, Kozue Takamiya, Kaori Seki
Understudy: Miki Sasaki
Rehearsal Support: Shun Shimizu
Stage Manager: Chikage Yuyama
Light Design: Masayoshi Takada (RYU)
Sound Design: Yuji Tsutsumida
Sound Operator: Masahide Ando
Costume Design: Midori Hagino
Perfume Design: Toshifumi Yoshitake (Perfume Design Laboratory Co., Ltd.)
Scenography Coordinator: Nami Tomizawa
Production Manager: Yuko Kieda, Satoko Suchi
Creation Support: Setagaya Public Theatre
Premiere: Theatre TRAM, Tokyo (2020)
Produced by Dantai Seki Kaori
Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan through the
Japan Arts Council and National Arts Council, The Saison Foundation
Presented by Kyoto Experiment
