Contemporary Dance Festival "Dance To Connect" Launches. A Night Where Physical Expression Connects the World and Tokyo. Directly Experience Three Intersecting Dance Artworks on May 15th at Shibuya Hikarie.
The contemporary dance festival "Dance To Connect," aiming to connect Japanese and global dance artists and audiences, will be held on May 15, 2026, at Shibuya Hikarie. Featuring world-renowned choreographer Ken Ossola, the festival will present new works and diverse dance performances.
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Dance To Connect is a project that creates a place for dance artists active across countries, cultures, and languages to meet Japanese dancers and audiences. Through creative work with leading contemporary dance artists from around the world, it provides Japanese dancers with the opportunity to directly experience world-class creative processes and present their work, while also offering audiences an experience where diverse contemporary dance feels more accessible.
[Three Pillars of Dance To Connect]
- Creation
Choreographers active on the world stage meet Japanese dancers to create new physical expressions through dialogue.
- Education
As an open space for all people beyond borders and cultures, it provides learning opportunities to deepen the body and senses.
- Expansion
Through body art, it brings new perspectives and insights, expanding the possibilities of dance into society.
In its inaugural year, 2026, Tokyo will welcome choreographer Ken Ossola, who has been active with Jiri Kylián's Nederlands Dans Theater and served as Kylián's assistant. A workshop for new creations by young Japanese dancers selected through auditions will be held, and the results will be presented at a "festival performance."
The festival performance will be held on May 15, 2026, at Shibuya Hikarie 8/ in Tokyo.
In addition to the new works created in the workshop, this performance will feature a new solo work titled "Moving Mountains" by Madoka Kariya, founder of Dance To Connect (choreography: Ken Ossola).
Furthermore, there will be a cross-genre improvisation session featuring clarinetist Hidehito Naka, who is active in various music productions including the Saito Kinen Orchestra, former Batsheva Dance Company contemporary dancer Chiaki Hotta, and hip-hop dancer Karim, who has competed in D. League and blends various styles.
Bringing together three works born from different creative processes, the event is structured to allow the audience to experience the diverse forms of contemporary dance.
There will also be program talks to introduce the background and creative processes of the works. This will be an opportunity for dance enthusiasts, as well as those new to contemporary dance, to enjoy the charm of contemporary dance spreading throughout the world.
DTC was founded by Madoka Kariya, a former Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NDT1) dancer who is currently active as a dancer and model based in Amsterdam. It is hosted by Broadway Dance Center, a dance training school with 42 years of history in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This is an international cultural project implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
[Three Pillars of Dance To Connect]
- Creation
Choreographers active on the world stage meet Japanese dancers to create new physical expressions through dialogue.
- Education
As an open space for all people beyond borders and cultures, it provides learning opportunities to deepen the body and senses.
- Expansion
Through body art, it brings new perspectives and insights, expanding the possibilities of dance into society.
In its inaugural year, 2026, Tokyo will welcome choreographer Ken Ossola, who has been active with Jiri Kylián's Nederlands Dans Theater and served as Kylián's assistant. A workshop for new creations by young Japanese dancers selected through auditions will be held, and the results will be presented at a "festival performance."
The festival performance will be held on May 15, 2026, at Shibuya Hikarie 8/ in Tokyo.
In addition to the new works created in the workshop, this performance will feature a new solo work titled "Moving Mountains" by Madoka Kariya, founder of Dance To Connect (choreography: Ken Ossola).
Furthermore, there will be a cross-genre improvisation session featuring clarinetist Hidehito Naka, who is active in various music productions including the Saito Kinen Orchestra, former Batsheva Dance Company contemporary dancer Chiaki Hotta, and hip-hop dancer Karim, who has competed in D. League and blends various styles.
Bringing together three works born from different creative processes, the event is structured to allow the audience to experience the diverse forms of contemporary dance.
There will also be program talks to introduce the background and creative processes of the works. This will be an opportunity for dance enthusiasts, as well as those new to contemporary dance, to enjoy the charm of contemporary dance spreading throughout the world.
DTC was founded by Madoka Kariya, a former Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NDT1) dancer who is currently active as a dancer and model based in Amsterdam. It is hosted by Broadway Dance Center, a dance training school with 42 years of history in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This is an international cultural project implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.