reviewvancouver: Identity –Ancestral Memory

Identity - Ancestral Memory celebrates the life and poetry of the late Japanese Canadian artist, Roy Kiyooka. Presented by Yayoi Theatre Movement Society (YTMS) in collaboration with Jay Hirabayashi director/choreographer/dancer with Kokoro Dance. When we entered the theater there were many empty seats. This fact did not give me a good impression since it was 2 minutes before opening. I have to say as a reviewer it is hard sometimes to find positive in a performance that made me want to go home half way through.

The production IDENTITY had interesting film footage as a backdrop. Young Japanese adults were being asked who they would like to be. This leads to the identity issue that many face who live in other countries like Canada. The film footage also covers the internment of the Japanese people in Canada and expropriation of Japanese property during and after the Second World War.

Great production choice but poorly presented. The dancers seemed to be walking aimlessly staring into space. There really was no rhyme or reason to most of the dance. Just one dance performance that showed our cultural differences with bowing and the handshake had clarity. The performance was very boring. I’m sure the audience was lost in symbolism.

I have to say the two musicians on stage playing shakuhachi and koto music did the best they could to support this presentation. The only positive was the film backdrop and music because what was going on stage was simply not well done.