Yuki Onna is a figure from Japanese mythology. She appears as a mysterious woman with long black hair, emerging from the icy silence of the snow to invite children to play with the wind. The stage transforms into a shimmering snowy landscape. Vivid, expressive passages of the tale are spoken in English, German, and Japanese, intertwining with Aya Toraiwa’s flowing movements to create a poetic and sensuous dance experience for all generations.
“What frightens the adult companions does not seem to bother the children. They engage with what they see on many levels: puzzling over the nature of the hair (is it real?); imitating movements; or catching the snowflakes drifting down in one scene. Demanding art for a young audience is both possible and worthwhile, as Isabelle Schad and her team prove.”
Elena Philipp, tanz
“Yuki-Onna – the Snow Woman by Isabelle Schad and Aya Toraiwa invites everyone five years of age and older to leave the spring sunshine behind and dive into the snowy landscapes of Japanese lore. […] The floor of the small stage is covered with snow-white fabric. Swaths of mist hang in the air. Aya Toraiwa stands at the front edge of the stage, peering into the curious faces of the children in the audience.”
Maria Ladopoulos, Tanzschreiber
Concept, Choreographer: Isabelle Schad
Co-Choreographer, dance: Aya Toraiwa
Light design, technic: Madison Pomarico, Bruno Pocheron
Composition, Sound: Damir Simunović
Voice Coaching: Ignacio Jarquin
Production manager: Heiko Schramm
Young Audiences Advisory: Dagmar Domrös
A production by Isabelle Schad. Co-produced with Toihaus Theater Salzburg. In cooperation with Tanzhalle Wiesenburg and Theater o.N.
Supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.