Terrace Canon, 1990

The title of the performance, Terrace Canon, was derived from the action of the 30 performers moving in canon with one another- movement echoing and repeating from one group or pair of performers to the next. The choreography was inspired by the natural landscape of the forest adjacent to the Kyoto College of Art performance area. The motion of the trees and their firm rooting to the earth was the starting point in designing the movement for this work.Performers moved in small groups, duets and alone as the piece progressed. These spatial relationships and groups were always changing. The movement chosen was simple in nature, as the surrounding landscape was complex in visual information. Singular arm gestures, walking patterns, and the transfer of weight in partners and alone was the main focus of the choreography.

Costumes were designed and dyed in collaboration with Michie Yamaguchi, Associate Professor of Textiles at the Kyoto College of Art. As the performers weaved through the space, the abstract colors of the sky and the forest met and separated.