Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Ukiyo-e at Romaeuropa Festival

Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presented Ukiyo-e at the Romaeuropa Festival 2023, held at Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone in Rome. The performance, featuring twenty-two dancers and three musicians, draws inspiration from the Japanese Ukiyo-e art style of the Edo period (17th–19th centuries), which depicts a 'floating world' of everyday life and landscapes. Cherkaoui, director of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, described the piece as a form of contemplation, inviting audiences to see the world floating while remaining still. A poem by Kae Tempest is recited during the show, emphasizing resilience and self-identity. Costumes by Yuima Nakazato and mobile sets by Alexander Dodge reinforce a sense of suspension. Music was composed by Alexander Dai Castaing, Szymon Bróska, Shogo Yoshii, with vocals by Kazutomi «Tsuki» Kozuki. Cherkaoui stated, 'The world needs sweetness. Sweetness is something difficult, it requires a lot of concentration. Violence is much easier.' The work celebrates human resilience and cooperation, offering a message of peace and stability amid change.