A Park | Tuonelan

With five white swans gliding in perfect formation, Yoko Omori captures the romantic imagination as seen from a Japanese perspective. She freely blends this source of inspiration with others, such as clubbing and manga. The young choreographer skillfully plays with cultural codes from near and far, presenting a form of dance that is precise, articulate and mischievous. Awarded at the 2022 Danse élargie competition, Yoko Omori has developed her practice by reimagining hip-hop, ballet and contemporary dance in a fast-paced style. In her solo piece A Park, she lays bare emotions and memories, inviting the audience to wander through them as if in an amusement park. Yet this park is decrepit, as though corroded from within. Beneath a lighthearted and humorous surface, Yoko Omori’s pieces contain as much light as shadow, evoking personal or cultural chasms that she constantly strives to avoid.