His approach is very thorough. While working on a piece about cockroaches, he had us searching through swamps studying the movements and behaviors of insects, patterns of nature - using all of our senses to find the tiniest details.
We were also forced to be sincere to ourselves. Not to accept false movements, but to search deeper for our own honest ones - even invisible ones. We worked on intense focus, keeping tension, listening to ourselves, trusting ourselves.
I could feel new doors of my potential open through this work. Like a runner who feels he can't go on being given a new focus, spiritual and physical adjustments – allowing him to run another three miles.
The physical training was also very intense - pushing our limits and beyond. It was exciting to work as a group and to gain new sensitivity to other performers. We created improvisations and Shinichi helped us to develop the ideas and combine them with the other performers' work - developing a sense of hyper-awareness.
It would be greatly valuable for any aspiring performer to work with Shinichi Iova-Koga, as it has been an honor for me to have done so.
~Haruko Nishimura
Degenerate Art Ensemble, Seattle
I
have been performing dance and collaborating under the direction of Shinichi
Iova-Koga since the spring of 1997. Momo is a gifted, sensitive, intelligent
and experienced performer and director, as well as a very knowledgeable
dance teacher. Through his teaching and guidance, I have learned and have
been exposed to the fundamentals, intricacies and endless and subtle nuances
of Butoh dance.
As a teacher, Momo has the ability to create among his students a safe
environment for learning and inner growth. This has been instrumental
in my development as a more confident performer. Momo has helped me evolve
as an artist and I feel grateful and honored to be one of his students
and collaborators.
~Eugenio
Brodbeck
Brazil
Wes Fredenburg