JAPAN
EXPERIMENTAL
DANCE RESIDENCY
EXPERIMENTAL
DANCE RESIDENCY
Japan : has a unique culture that is unlike any other country.
The residency is open to anyone who resonate with the project and wants to cultivate somatic awareness
through experiencing Japanese culture and creating art togather.
「空気を読む」(Reading the air) is important foundations for the residency.
The residency will be held as part of the Living Somatic Project.
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21-31 OCTOBER 2026
実生 Mishō : Japan 10-days experimental dance residency in nature and studio
「実生」 refers to a plant grown from seed—a life that gradually finds its own form through its relationship with the surrounding environment.
Misho is an invitation to explore this process together. Moving between the garden, the studio, and the landscape, we practice through gardening, movement, bodywork, contact improvisation, and site-specific exploration.
Mikis Tapaswi will be facilitating the WS 『実生 - Something that shines transparetly』in first three days as the turning for the residency.
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We begin by arriving.
We practice listening—to the land beneath our feet, to one another, and to the subtle movements within ourselves.
In this practice, we may encounter certainty and uncertainty, strength and weakness, wisdom and foolishness, openness and
resistance. As they become embodied and expressed, they gradually reveal something genuine—something that shines transparently.
The space responds. Others respond.
Life responds.
This is a practice we enter together.
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RESIDENCY TEAM
- Irene PonsSpainIrene is part of SerVivo, a community based in Portugal, a living space in nature dedicated to somatic practices where she is currently involved as a facilitator and organiser.
Beyond her passion for dance, she is also a bodyworker and a visual artist, working in documentaries, photography and video art projects, always connected to dance, movement and nature.
At 実生, Irene leads somatic movement classes, contributes to the laboratory, and documents the residency as its photographer.
More info: www.irene-pons.com - Daun YangSouth KoreaDaun is a curious being, exploring life through the body. Dance improvisation such as Contact Improvisation and Butoh, writings, and videography has been her mediums for such exploration.
Based in Busan, she is part of the organizing team at Studio Binjari - Centre for Living Art Practices Inquiring Into Body and Mind, where she supports and cultivates artistic practices grounded in embodied inquiry, improvisation, and communal living.
At 実生, Daun contributes to the CI laboratory, documents the residency as its videographer, and supports the organization of the program. - Mikis TapaswiJapanMikis is the founder of Living Somatic.
He has developed Living Somatic as a platform for exploring the integration of movement, awareness, and improvisation in everyday life, inspired in specific environments and shaped through practice and relationship, drawing on Japanese culture to open a space for mutual learning in dialogue with an international community.
At 実生, Mikis hosts the overall residency and leads the opening workshop, cultivating the shared ground from which the journey unfolds.
Read full bio
Fields of practice :
• Zazen
• Vipassana meditation
• Noguchi taisou
• Body wheather
• Butoh
• Contact Improvisation
• Authentic Movement
• Osteothai
• Wuotai Osteodance
• Site-Specific performance
• Ecosomatics
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GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE RESIDENCY :
The first day is your arrival day (Day 0),
Please arrive by 5:00 PM. We will have orientation about the residency.
In first 3 days, we will have 6 hours of WS, then we will be co-creating rest of the residency. The basic structure includes 3 hours of indoor dance sessions, another half-day session will be more open, and shaped together with support from the
residency team.
Day 9 will be our performance.
Day 10 will include a cleaning dance session and a sharing circle.
The residency will close by noon.
Sessions may be scheduled in the early morning or evening, depending on the wishes of the group. There will be two days off during the 10-day residency
From Day 4, guided sessions for dances and laboratories will be facilitated by collaborators and those who wish to share their research.
(This is a great opportunity to share within a small and supportive group, even if you are new to facilitation.)
The residency will include at least one cultural experience and interaction with local people, such as tea ceremonies, cooking, calligraphy, zazen, traditional dance, and martial arts like Aikido, Karate, and Judo.
Each morning begins with stepping into the garden and placing our hands in the soil.
During the residency, each participant will plant seeds or young seedlings in the garden. Within the span of ten days, we may witness the quiet emergence of new life.
(Please note that the daily schedule is subject to change depending on the weather, participants and the evolving process of our work)
ACCOMMODATION :
The house is more than 100 years old beautiful wooden house with tatami mats to allow you to experience a simple Japanese lifestyle. Each room will likely be shared by two or three people.
If you require private space, we recommend nearby accommodation or camping in the garden.
The house is more than 100 years old beautiful wooden house with tatami mats to allow you to experience a simple Japanese lifestyle. Each room will likely be shared by two or three people.
If you require private space, we recommend nearby accommodation or camping in the garden.
Meals
Homemade vegetarian dinner will be served during the residency by Sunstri.
For breakfast, we will provide simple ingredients. And we all take turns preparing it.
For breakfast, we will provide simple ingredients. And we all take turns preparing it.
- SunstriSho & Maya
Registration
Participation Fee : JPY 97000
(Price includes accommodation, 8 times dinner and breakfast)
Participation is limited to a
small group of 6-8 participants.
(Price includes accommodation, 8 times dinner and breakfast)
Participation is limited to a
small group of 6-8 participants.
Driving Support Welcome
Participants who can legally drive in Japan are especially welcome. Having someone comfortable behind the wheel helps us access nearby nature, hot springs, and local places beyond walking distance.
Participants who can legally drive in Japan are especially welcome. Having someone comfortable behind the wheel helps us access nearby nature, hot springs, and local places beyond walking distance.
Ibusuki City, Kagoshima
Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the southernmost tip of Honshu, Japan.
The port of Yamagawa in this small city is where diplomacy began in the 16th century with the arrival of the first Portuguese ship to the Japanese mainland. Jorge Alvarez, the captain of that ship, wrote a 'Report on Japan' of what he saw and was the first to introduce Japan to the Western world.
In recent years, Ibusuki City has been grappling with an aging population, depopulation, and the resulting problem of vacant homes.
The port of Yamagawa in this small city is where diplomacy began in the 16th century with the arrival of the first Portuguese ship to the Japanese mainland. Jorge Alvarez, the captain of that ship, wrote a 'Report on Japan' of what he saw and was the first to introduce Japan to the Western world.
Ibusuki is known as a retro hot spring resort and is blessed with an abundance of hot springs. It is said that there are more than 800 sources in the town, some of which are luxurious private spas, while others encompass long-established family run business that have been around since the Meiji era.(For about 150 years)
In recent years, Ibusuki City has been grappling with an aging population, depopulation, and the resulting problem of vacant homes.
How to get IBUSUKI!?
The nearest airport is KAGOSHIMA Airport.
LCC flights from Tokyo and Osaka often offer tickets priced below ¥10,000.
There will be a Footbath waiting for you in front of the bus terminal at the
KAGOSHIMA airport.
You have two options:
1, Take the direct bus from the airport to Ibusuki
2, Take the bus from the airport to Kagoshima Central Station and then take the train or the bus to Ibusuki.
There are four direct buses a day from Kagoshima Airport to Ibusuki Station.
10:30, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00
(No reservation is required)
It takes about 2 hours!
LCC flights from Tokyo and Osaka often offer tickets priced below ¥10,000.
There will be a Footbath waiting for you in front of the bus terminal at the
KAGOSHIMA airport.
You have two options:
1, Take the direct bus from the airport to Ibusuki
2, Take the bus from the airport to Kagoshima Central Station and then take the train or the bus to Ibusuki.
There are four direct buses a day from Kagoshima Airport to Ibusuki Station.
10:30, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00
(No reservation is required)
It takes about 2 hours!
Past Residencies