"Korea & Japan Project"
Special Website for the “Korea & Japan Project Performance in Japan ‘1200’”
Aiming to Lay the Foundation for Revitalized International Collaboration in the Post-Pandemic Era
This project was launched as an international co-production in contemporary dance between Korean choreographer Jaewoo Jeong and Japanese choreographer Rina Katō, who first met through SAI Dance Festival, one of Japan’s international dance festivals.
The two artists conducted a total of four weeks of research and creative development—two
weeks in each country—and created a duet piece as the centerpiece of this collaboration.
Alongside the duet, they also presented their respective solo works, which originally served
as the catalyst for this collaboration.
The three-part performance was held at Muriui (Setagaya, Tokyo) on May 30–31, 2025.
Rather than simply participating in an international exchange where artists perform abroad, this project aimed to foster deeper communication through a process of mutual artistic residency, in which artists from both countries traveled, met face-to-face, and worked together directly.
By engaging in creative processes and performances within each local environment, both choreographers were able to experience and share the differences between the dance scenes of their respective countries, modeling a form of international exchange rooted in artistic collaboration and embodied communication.
Creation Residency in Korea
In Korea, we stayed in Incheon — the base of Korean choreographer Jeong Jae Woo — for approximately two weeks, from April 14 (Mon) to April 28 (Mon), 2025, where we carried out the first phase of the creative process for our collaborative work “1200.”
For detailed documentation of the residency, please visit the special project website.
Creation Residency in Japan
In Japan, Jeong Jae Woo was invited to Tokyo, the base of Rina Katō, for approximately two
weeks from May 14 (Wed) to June 2 (Mon), 2025, to carry out the second phase of the creation
of “1200.”
During this period, the artists refined and completed the work by carefully revisiting and
developing the structure that had been created earlier in Korea.
Photo: Shii
Korea & Japan Project Performance in Japan "1200"
On the second day of the performance, an after-talk session was held in conjunction with the
show.
The two artists shared stories—sometimes humorous—about their creative process, the
differences in their ways of thinking and personalities they discovered along the way, and
the insights they gained through this project. Surrounded by a warm and supportive audience,
the performance took place in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
The overall structure of the program—starting from solo pieces themed around “absence” and
“emptiness,” leading into a duo work exploring “distance in human relationships”—was highly
praised by the audience.
Many expressed that the after-talk deepened their understanding of the meaning and
significance of international collaboration.
Through this project, we were able to share a glimpse of Korean culture and the contemporary
dance scene with Japanese audiences, extending our exchange beyond the two artists
themselves.
Our collaborative piece “1200” was launched with the goal of building a foundation for sustainable international exchange projects, and we plan to continue seeking opportunities for future re-staging and long-term collaboration. We hope you will look forward to the further development of each artist’s international creative activities.
Photo: Shii
| Title | Korea & Japan Project Performance in Japan “1200” |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 30 (Fri) – May 31 (Sat), 2025 |
| Venue | Muriui, Setagaya, Tokyo |
| Program | “absence” – Choreography & Performance: Rina Kato “Uninhabited Island” (無人島) – Choreography & Performance: Jae Woo Jung “1200” – Choreography & Performance: Jae Woo Jung, Rina Kato |
| Lighting & Sound | Shoya Fukunaga |
| Stage Manager | Kentaro Nezu |
| Photography & Video | Tomoya Takahashi |
| Front of House / Operations | Fuka Yuge |
| After-Talk Session | Moderator: Keito Fukuhara Interpreter: Risa Watanabe |
| Organized, Planned, and Produced by |
Jae Woo Jung & Rina Kato |
| Supported by | Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture [Startup
Grant] Incheon Cultural Foundation |
| In Cooperation with | Muriui / Shibai Engine |
