An astounding performance piece inspired by the moon featuring Zen archery, experimental movement and music

 

World Festival of Sacred Music Program

Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity)

Friday, Sept. 19, 8p.m.

Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles

 (213) 680-3700   www.jaccc.org

 

Cultural News, September 2008

 

 

    The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) presents Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity, the name given to a region of the moon), a contemporary performance piece as part of the World Festival of Sacred Music Los Angeles.

 

    Conceived by award winning performance and visual artist, Zen archer, Buddhist priest and Choiunard Art graduate Hirokazu Kosaka, Mare Serenitatis blends classical and contemporary Western influenced art forms with traditional rites of purification from ancient Japan.

 

     The performance features choreographer and dancer Oguri, flute/fue player Kaoru Watanabe (formerly of world renowned taiko group KODO), harmonica player Tetsuya Nakamura (from the rockband WAR), dance troupe bodyTRAFFIC, Zen archery group IKKYU, the traditional Japanese court music group Kinnara Bugaku/Gagaku, the Okinawan classical dance group Majikina Honryu, Koyasan Buddhist priests and Hirokazu Kosaka.

 

    In three movements, audience members are taken on a meditative journey inspired by the serenity and purity of the moon through dance, movement, music, archery and light.

 

     "Mare Serenitatis is a study of both man and nature, large and small.  A micro and macrocosmic view of the world," Kosaka explained. “I hope the audience comes away from ‘Mare’ with a greater understanding of self."

 

     Featuring themes of nature and its elements in an urban setting, Mare Serenitatis is the artistic vision of Kosaka in search of a sense of purity and peace amidst and beyond the looming skyscrapers and congested freeways of Los Angeles. The performance concludes with a 12-million candlelight searchlight illuminating a path to the moon.

 

   This program is made possible in part by the generous support from the World Festival of Sacred Music, Los Angeles

 

    Aratani/Japan America Theatre is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, in the Little Tokyo area of downtown Los Angeles. 

 

     Tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for JACCC members, seniors and students.