Indeed to produce this theatre play in a small Fukushima cafe for artists as a solo dance by the Master Wakayagi Masayasu, in such a short span of time many were involved.

Many thanks to Dorothy Britton, poet, composer and artist who re-read Nathalie’s script and made comments. Dorothy, the author of The Japanese Crane: Bird of Happiness and co-author of National Parks of Japan was the one who helped Nathalie solve the enigma of the original crane drawings painted by Hokusai and introduced her to the photographer and the cranes of the North. Thanks too to the award winning poet translator Peter Macmillan, reknown for his prizewinning translation of One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each (Hyakunin Isshu), who translated the fable in less than two weeks.

Nathalie wrote, painted and illustrated, Kizuna, a twist on a classic Japanese tale danced solo by the reknown Master Wakayagi Masayosu, one of the five leading Nihon Buyo schools in Japan. The tale was danced in a Fukushima cafe solo in front of an audience of artists for Fukushima.

Nathalie worked with a few traditional masters of the arts in Japan, often becoming their student to meet regularly, know them well and learn the story of Japan through classical movements of the body and a new way of being.

Nihon Buyo is a classical Japanese dance evolved from the traditional forms of Japanese Kabuki theatre to modern day performances, communicating a story through a dance. It is through these pre-set movements and pantomime that dancers perform poems, legends or stories.