Miki Orihara to Perform Solo Work IN THE BOX 2 at La MaMa

Celebrated for her captivating work with the Martha Graham Dance Company, dancer/choreographer Miki Orihara premieres the second incarnation of her multi-media work, In the Box (ITB).

Directed by theatrical visual-effects specialist Hiroyuki Nishiyama (a.k.a. nissy), this new experimental dance-theater piece features performances by Bessie Award winner Orihara with original music by best-selling Sony Music artist Senri Oe.

Using cutting edge animations and projections from Japan, In the Box 2 (ITB2) juxtaposes three-dimensional sounds and images with the flesh and bones of a dancer and her moving shadow.

"I am thrilled to be collaborating again with these innovative Japanese artists," says Orihara. "Together we have formed a unique collaboration of movement and technology. Through animations, interactive projections, and my own shadow, I will embark on a meditative journey of inner and outer discovery. I encourage audience members to join me in this search for the meaning of life and challenge them to find their own 'box."

ITB2 follows the 2015 premiere of ITB which explored the paradox of "Where Technology Meets the Body" inspired by Schrödinger's cat (quantum mechanics). ITB2 picks up where its predecessor left off and opens the book of our lives in a paradoxical nature. "ITB2 explores human nature by mixing the human body with technology," explains Orihara. "Audiences will experience entirely new sensations!" Using a streamlined technology of sensor system and infrared camera, audiences can enjoy the dancer's motions and visual expressions through streamlined technology including CG, infrared cameras, and three-dimensional audio.

Miki Orihara is known for her Bessie Award-winning career with the Martha Graham Dance Company, which she joined in 1987. In addition to performing the Graham repertory, she has worked closely with the renowned Japanese-American dancer, choreographer and director, Yuriko, preserving her unique approach to Graham Technique. Orihara has performed in the Broadway production of The King and I, with the Elisa Monte, Dance Troupe, PierGroupDance, Lotuslotus, Twyla Tharp, Martha Clarke, Anne Bogart and Robert Wilson. She has presented her own choreography in New York and in Tokyo as a guest artist for Japan's New National Theater. Her teaching credentials include numerous workshops in Japan, Art International in Moscow, Peridance, the Ailey School, New York University, Florida State University, Henny Jurriëns Stichting (Netherlands), Les Etés de la Danse in Paris and New National Theater Ballet School. She is on a faculty at the Graham School, The Hartt School (University of Hartford) and Barnard College (Columbia University). mishmash?Miki Orihara launched in 2013, as a Dance Director, created two music videos which released in June, 2014. She produced a benefit concert " Dancing for JAPAN 2014" as a curator, and also produced the first solo concert "Resonance" at the La MaMa theater in New York in May, 2014. In April 2017, Orihara was featured for the Inaugural performance of "Peace is..." at the United Nations as a part of the Permanent Mission of Japan, and presented "Resonance II" and curated "Dancing for JAPAN 2017."

A New York resident for the past decade, Senri Oe is making a name for himself as an innovative, engaged and highly creative member of the jazz community. Though he has proved his skill as a songwriter, pianist, singer and more, he prefers to describe himself simply as a jazz musician who loves to write music as well as perform on piano. In the four jazz albums Senri has released as a leader since 2012, he's shown himself to be versatile and adventurous, exploring different facets of jazz with each CD. From a two-horn quintet (Boys Mature Slow, his 2012 stateside debut) to a full big band (2013's Spooky Hotel) to a straight-ahead trio (Collective Scribble, 2015) to a vocal showcase (2016's Answer July, featuring the likes of Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann, Becca Stevens, and Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices), Senri makes it clear he's comfortable in a variety of configurations.

IF YOU GO:

In the Box 2

Choreography / Dance Direction / Dancer: Miki Orihara

Director / Producer: Hiroyuki Nishiyama a.k.a. nissy

Composer/Musician: Senri Oe

Stage Manager: Ryo Onodera (U.K Bridge)

Visual / CG: Yasuhiro Chida (Komaden) / Genki Kojima (Libre)

Lighting Designer: Masahiko Nagai (Tokyo Butai Showmei)

Sound: Hiroyuki Sanada

Costume: Kumiko Shinoda

Photography: Yoji Kawada (mosa)

Produced by Hiroyuki Nishiyama (nissy plus, Inc.) / Hiroshi Kono (Mar Creation, Inc.)

WHEN: Friday, June 30 @ 7:00 + 9:00 p.m., Saturday, July 1 @ 6:00 + 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 2 @ 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Summer Shares at La MaMa, 74 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003. Train: 6 to Astor Place, F to 2nd Avenue

TICKETS: $30 in advance (Student $20) / $35 at door (Student $25) / VIP $100. To purchase tickets, visit InTheBox-NYC.com.