Dancer, Choreographer Rina Kato

I am honored to have been selected as one of the choreographers for this year’s “SandD LAB. — Creating Dialogue: Motion and Light”, a development program organized by SandD, led by dancer and choreographer Kenta Kojiri.

Through this program, I aim to further expand my perspective and strengthen my skills as both a dancer and choreographer.

SandD LAB. 2026 — Creating Dialogue: Motion and Light
March 3–8, 2026
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1, 3F Hall

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Choreographers: Rina Kato, Ayane Nakagawa, Kotomi Nishiwaki, Kenta Kojiri
Lighting Designers: Ayumi Otokoyama, Natsuki Sugimoto
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Three choreographers and two lighting designers selected through an open call, together with Kenta Kojiri, will engage in creative collaboration under the mentorship of lighting designer Yukiko Yoshimoto.
The final day will feature a showing—a trial performance to share and exchange ideas and outcomes from the creative process.

Auditions for dancers are scheduled to open in late November.

More information : https://kojiri.jp/info/article-2025-07-11b.html

Participant Profiles (Excerpt)
Rina Kato
Born in Tokyo. Completed her MA in Performing Arts at Nihon University Graduate School of Art. Currently a project member of Tarinof Dance Company. Recently participated as a dancer in a Japan–Italy collaboration with Company MESSAPICA.
As a choreographer, she was selected by Korean choreographer Jeong Jae-woo for the Japan & Korea Project at SAI Dance Festival 2024, and continues to engage in diverse collaborations spanning local community projects, music videos, and film.
Finalist, Yokohama Dance Collection 2024 Competition II (New Choreographer Division).

Ayane Nakagawa
Director, choreographer, and dancer; founder of Suimegane∞. Trained in both classical ballet and traditional Japanese dance from childhood, and majored in theatre at J. F. Oberlin University.
Since founding Suimegane∞ in 2011, she has created dance works exploring the intersection of theatre and movement, investigating the role of dance within society.
Instagram: @suimega8

Kotomi Nishiwaki
Performer, dancer, and choreographer based in Spain. Studied at P.A.R.T.S in Brussels, then worked independently from Berlin with artists such as An Kurogane, João Fiadeiro, and Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods. In 2017, she co-founded ParkKeito Company in Barcelona with Miquel Casaponsa, creating hybrid stage works presented across European festivals.

Ayumi Oyama
Born in 2000, Shiga Prefecture. After studying directing and stage technology at Nihon University College of Art, she turned to lighting design in her senior year. Now a freelance lighting designer, she works primarily in theatre, pursuing “light that resonates with the unconscious.”

Natsuki Sugimoto
Playwright and lighting designer. Born in 1991 in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Finalist for the 15th AAF Playwriting Prize (2015). After studying cell biology and training under lighting designer Yasuhiro Fujiwara, she began freelancing in 2020.
Recipient of the Japan Lighting Designers Association Award (Effort Award, 2023 / New Artist Award, 2024).
Representative of N₂.