Mariko Takayasu:„Ich möchte ohne Furcht den Tod akzeptieren. Durch den Tanz möchte ich das Gedächtnis des Körpers, das das Leben in der Gegenwart bestimmt, an die Öffentlichkeit tragen, um mit dem Zuschauer zu kommunizieren. Bei Mandala geht es um eine innere Bewegung, die aus Emotion und spiritueller Energie schöpft, um vermittels des Körpers Ausdruck zu kreieren. Der Urprung liegt in der Entdeckung der Tanz-Meditation und darin, über die Form hinauszugehen. Der Tanz wurde geschaffen, um die Heil- und Lebenskraft der Körperenergie zu erlernen. Es ging mir darum, Friede mit mir selbst zu finden und die Suche nach der Verbindung von Seele, Gesang und Tanz fortzusetzen.“

 

Mariko Takayasu was born 1957 in Kyoto, Japan. She was brought up in the Samurai traditional family. She left Japan when she was 16 and spent the next 11 years in the USA. There she worked as a psychotherapist & dance therapist. She graduated from Portland State University in Psychology and Dance, acting, choreographing, working with Ric Young at Storefront Theatre since 1974. Later, she worked original production Japan/USA collaborations. She went on to study dance at the schools of Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham. She translates the Kendo art of fencing and the basic principles of Samurai body and spiritual training into a contemporary language of movement. She lives through her suffering from rheumatic fever to find the way to balance of body, mind, and spiritual revolution to open her heart and mind to understand potential to repair mechanical system. Her solo dance "Mandala" is her life work  to understand human potential. Mandala at the early stages was danced at temples, and outdoor gardens.

Her works reflect both her origins and her dramatic experiences with her body.She sees dance as a way to go beyond the physical plane to know the meaning of life and death.She founded Mariko Dance Theatre in 1983 in Kyoto. She performs, creates, teaches and works as a therapist in Japan. She says "Our body communicates much more than our words. We are dance and music. We are here to be in harmony and to become dance and music with love and compassion."

Improvised Inner Feelings and Emotional Expressions

Mandala
Mandala