Flower Raft
(Memories Afloat in the Twilight of Obon)
"Flower Raft
(Memories Afloat in the Twilight of Obon)"
**Even if we are separated, and you now exist somewhere beyond my reach,
I will keep thinking of you, and continue to move forward—
—If love lies at the end of everything.**
A large ensemble performance of 19 dancers themed around “Sakura” (cherry blossoms).
This piece was my graduation work created during my university years. Although it is a short work of about ten minutes, it carries a sense of grandeur through the large-scale ensemble of nineteen dancers. The title “Hana-Ikada” (literally “flower raft”) refers to cherry blossom petals that have fallen and drift gently along the surface of a river—this image serves as the central motif of the work. The dancers’ repeated entrances and exits from stage left to right evoke the quiet, continuous flow of water.
On a more personal note, the piece also embodies a requiem dedicated to my father, who passed away suddenly when I entered university. The quiet scene inspired by “floating lanterns” (nagashi-tōrō) becomes a key moment in the work, expressing remembrance and the gentle passage of time.
| Duration | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Choreography / Direction / Composition |
Rina Kato |
| Performers | Haruka Ikeda, Juri Obata, Sakiho Kato, Natsuki Kaneyasu, Maki Saito, Akari, Rina Shimizu, Sara Takahashi, Mizuki Takahashi, Naho Tachiki, Saki Nakajima, Asuka Nara, Sana Mizuno, Kaho Ukikame, Yuria Onishi, Yumi Okada, Hinata Kiyono, Marika Suzuki, Misa Yasui |
| Lighting Design | Natsuko Mori |
| Sound Design | Miku Fukushima |
| Performance | Modern Dance Performance — Nihon University, Department of Theatre 2021 Graduation Production (Western Dance), Free-form Creative Project |
| Date | November 12–14, 2021 |
| Venue | Nihon University College of Art, North Building Middle Hall |
