Mirai Moriyama x World-Renowned Choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen Create the Impact of Quiet Dance. The Acclaimed Work "STILL LIFE" That Swept Festivals Across Europe Comes to Japan, Its Place of Creation, in June 2026.

"Dance for thought"

―The Guardian (UK)

"A faint hope in the midst of chaos"

―Göteborgs-Posten (Sweden)

In June 2026, Kobe Bunka Hall (managed by the Kobe City Cultural Foundation) will collaborate with Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 1 and Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship to present "STILL LIFE" by Alan Lucien Øyen, one of the most acclaimed directors and choreographers in contemporary performing arts.

This work is a dance piece written by Øyen, who has created works for the Pina Bausch Wuppertal Dance Theater and the Paris Opera Ballet and has won numerous international awards, specifically for the exceptional performers Mirai Moriyama and Daniel Proietto. It premiered globally after a residency in Kobe in 2024. Subsequently, it toured major festivals across Europe, including the Venice Biennale, receiving extremely high praise from various media for its "fusion of astonishing physical expression and theatrical direction." Now, the long-awaited tour in Japan, the place of its creation, will take place.

【What is "STILL LIFE"?】

A painting of waves shimmering beyond the smoke. The voices of a chorus wearing masks reminiscent of branches and roots. The bodies and whispers of two dancers quietly resonate through the space.

"STILL LIFE" is a dance work that re-examines the relationship between humans and nature.

Direction, choreography, and text are by Norwegian artist Alan Lucien Øyen, a world-renowned choreographer who has also created works for the Pina Bausch Wuppertal Dance Theater and the Paris Opera Ballet. The performers are Mirai Moriyama, from Kobe, and Daniel Proietto, an internationally acclaimed dancer from Argentina. The stage, where butoh-like physicality, minimalist movements, silence, and whispers intertwine, quietly stirs the senses of the audience.

The title "STILL LIFE" simultaneously refers to a beautiful, motionless landscape and carries the implication of "nature in decline." Living surrounded by digital environments, have we perhaps lost our connection to nature and others without realizing it? This work quietly, yet certainly, poses that question.

This work originated from a residency in Kobe in 2024 and received high acclaim at various European venues, including the Venice Biennale. For this Japan tour, local choirs will also participate, creating the stage alongside the dancers. The work that soared to the world now returns to Japan, its place of creation. We invite you to experience the faint hope that flickers within the stillness at the theater.

FAQ

What is the title of the acclaimed dance work created by Mirai Moriyama and Alan Lucien Øyen?

The acclaimed dance work created by Mirai Moriyama and world-renowned choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen is titled "STILL LIFE".

Who are the key performers in the dance piece "STILL LIFE" that has toured across Europe?

The key performers in the dance piece "STILL LIFE" are Mirai Moriyama from Kobe and internationally acclaimed dancer Daniel Proietto from Argentina.

When and where did "STILL LIFE" have its global premiere, and which major festival did it attend?

"STILL LIFE" premiered globally in 2024 after a residency in Kobe and subsequently toured major European festivals, including the Venice Biennale.

What is the central theme that the dance work "STILL LIFE" aims to re-examine?

The dance work "STILL LIFE" critically aims to re-examine the intricate and profound relationship between human beings and nature.

Which Japanese venues will host the "STILL LIFE" performance in June 2026?

In June 2026, the "STILL LIFE" performance will be hosted at Kobe Bunka Hall, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 1, and Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship.

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