Dance Performance Group “Zunchacha”
“Zunchacha” is a dance performance group based in Kurashiki City, with a studio, and operates under the motto “Forever Young Dancing!” in Okayama and Kurashiki.
The leader, Suhara Yoshimi (倉敷市出身), learned modern ballet and jazz ballet from a young age and moved to the United States alone in 1995. There, she met a modern dance instructor (former principal of the Jose Limon Company, Betty Jones), who told her, “Your true self is wonderful,” which greatly changed her values.
For Suhara, who felt the barriers of physical conditions as a dancer, that experience of being affirmed as “just as you are” was shocking and at the same time liberating. Furthermore, during her time in the U.S., she was exposed to contemporary dance, which inspired her with the idea of “free dance expression that utilizes one’s individuality,” and she strongly confirmed, “This is what I want to do.”
After returning to Japan in 1996, she formed the dance group “Zunchacha.” Each member has their own job and gathers after work, continuing to operate in a “day job, night dancer” dual-role style.
While there have been some changes in membership, many original members still remain, and continuity is the driving force of Zunchacha.
Although they are amateurs, they regularly hold performances for audiences and are actively engaged in producing video works, as well as participating in events and dance workshops rooted in the community in Okayama and Kurashiki.
In 2021, they celebrated their 25th anniversary, and in April 2022, they held a solo commemorative performance “BIRDS” at the Tenjinyama Cultural Plaza in Okayama Prefecture. In November of the same year, they received the “2022 Fukutake Education and Culture Award” from the Fukutake Education and Culture Promotion Foundation for their long-standing achievements and contributions to the promotion and enlightenment of contemporary dance in Okayama Prefecture.
Furthermore, coinciding with the 25th anniversary, they teamed up with Arusu Kurashiki (Kurashiki City Cultural Promotion Foundation). For Zunchacha, which had primarily focused on self-produced performances until then, collaborating with local cultural projects has become a new challenge.
What is Contemporary Dance?
Contemporary dance may seem somewhat difficult at first glance. This is because contemporary dance does not have fixed forms or rules like ballet, and it centers around free and elusive expressions that arise from each dancer's body and senses.
Some may feel confused by the seemingly disjointed developments, wondering, “Why this movement?” “Is this dance?”
However, that “mysteriousness” is said to be the charm and interest of contemporary dance. There are as many ways to feel it as there are viewers, and it becomes an experience that only those present at that moment can share.
Work Introduction - You don’t have to search for the right answer, just feel freely!
From captivating works that embody the essence of “contemporary” to fun pieces that will make you smile, you can watch them on Zunchacha's official YouTube channel. Of course, experiencing it live is the best, but first, feel free to take a peek into the world of Zunchacha through the videos.
As a beginner to Zunchacha, I have selected four works of different types from those currently available and will introduce them in the order I recommend watching.
Zun to Aru su 1 “Trip” / ARS KURASHIKI × ZUNCHACHA
＠Geibunkan Hall, Kurashiki City, 2022 video work
This is a dynamic work that turns the entire inside and outside of Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City into a stage, with impressive camera work.
Bright and cool, it is friendly even for beginners, and everyone will naturally be drawn into the world of Zunchacha. From a gentle introduction, it develops into a scene full of dynamism, with humorous movements accompanied by sometimes comical BGM.
It is a highly entertaining piece packed with the essence of Zunchacha, making time fly by without boredom.
Zun to Aru su 1 Nature series I Narutaki Forest Park Edition
＠Narutaki Forest Park, 2022 work
Dancing alone in the forest, it appears as if she is breathing in harmony with the forest.
Normally, I am surrounded by text on a computer screen due to my work, and I am always listening to someone’s voice while seeking information on YouTube, so the sensation I experienced when I encountered this work was very refreshing.
You don’t have to read, you don’t have to listen to voices, you don’t have to think. Just surrender yourself to the visuals and music, and the time spent receiving it in a dazed manner was simply pleasant. In less than three minutes, my heart felt cleansed.
This is a work with a high healing effect that made me realize that there is such an experience of being healed through “dance.”
A Grand Collaboration with Bichu Onra Taiko! From Zunchacha's 20th Anniversary Performance “L”
＠Okayama Civic Cultural Hall, 2017 performance
This collaboration work with Bichu Onra Taiko is recommended for those who feel some distance from contemporary dance or have a bit of resistance to it.
The sound and rhythm of the taiko, which everyone in Japan surely loves, merges with contemporary dance, allowing you to experience a nostalgic yet new sensation. Within the development, you can feel elements reminiscent of Noh and African tribal dance, and the unique movements and rhythms of the taiko draw you in, making you want to keep watching.
ZUNCHACHA “PROCESSION”
[From 2023 to 2024, Zunchacha, Takuma Kimura, and Toru Matsushita will engage in the creation of dance video works and challenge participation in international video competitions (Cannes, NY, etc.)]
Supported by: Fukutake Education and Culture Promotion Foundation
This is Zunchacha's latest video work.
In a wild and beautiful nature that makes you wonder, “Which planet is this?” the dancers move powerfully and gracefully.
The monochrome “PROCESSION,” the color “PROCESSION Planeta matris,” and the making-of video capturing the behind-the-scenes of the shoot. By watching all of them, the passion of the creators comes through more deeply.
Among them, “PROCESSION” evokes a sense of lingering beauty reminiscent of watching a French film, with its monochrome visual beauty and impressive melodies that switch with each scene. The body, nature, visuals, and music. This work encapsulates the “now” of Zunchacha, born from the overlapping powers of these elements.
After watching each of the four works, don’t you feel something indescribable lingering in your heart?
Even in a short time, didn’t you experience a sense of extraordinary, as if you had taken a trip somewhere? That is the kind of experience that “Zunchacha” offers.
To delve into the charm of Zunchacha, I asked the leader, Suhara, about her thoughts on their activities.
Dance Performance Group Zunchacha Data
| Group Name | Dance Performance Group Zunchacha |
|---|---|
| Industry | Contemporary Dance / Dance Studio |
| Representative Name | Suahara Yoshimitsu |
| Year Established | 1996 |
| Address | 〒710-0046 Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki City, Chuo 2-18-3 CHIMI STUDIO |
| Contact | 0864250737 |
| Website | ZUNCHACHA website |
