Distant Thunders Heard - Sharp & Fine, Detour Dance, Kristin Damrow & Co.

The 72 Seasons, or 72 候, are a traditional calendar of micro-seasons that encourage a deep appreciation for the subtle changes of the natural world and the cultural practices that develop around them. As part of CTN's 72 Seasons Project, three Bay Area dance companies will share new creations that explore the 12th season, Distant Thunders Heard.

Sharp & Fine (S&F) is a SF-based contemporary dance company co-founded in 2011 by sisters Megan and Shannon Kurashige to create experiments in theatrical storytelling and physically exuberant choreography. S&F's work brings together dance, emotionally nuanced text, live music, and the belief that telling a story built on personal truths is a powerful act of communication and empathy. S&F has collaborated with dancers, composers, musicians, authors, a playwright, and an opera singer. The company has been commissioned by Oakland Ballet, FACT/SF, CTN, the Merde Project, and Soundwave. Website

Detour Dance is a devised-theater ensemble that creates bold performances rooted in drag and dance. Founded in 2009 by Eric Garcia and Kat Gorospe Cole, Detour produces immersive and site-responsive experiences that are oriented towards queer lineages and legacies, present-day complexities, and future-facing possibilities. Detour also presents Clutch The Pearls, a monthly vaudeville cabaret for experimental drag performance artists. Among its honors are the Margaret Jenkins’ CHIME Award, an Izzie Award nomination for Best Choreography, a Dancers’ Group commission to reimagine Pina Bausch’s iconic Nelken Line and a curatorial commission from the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts. Website

Kristin Damrow & Company (KDC) is an Isadora Duncan Award-nominated contemporary dance company based in San Francisco. KDC’s live performances are developed from the physical exploration of the design process through form, space, and experience. This research is then brought to life with dynamic movement, original soundscapes, and thematic scenic design. KDC has been commissioned to create work for the FOG Design + Art, Oakland Museum of California, Airbnb Design, and Iowa State University. The company’s work earned notices in Fast Company, Backstage, and Disegno magazines, among others. Website

The U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network (CTN) cultivates and promotes creativity, collective wisdom, resilience, sustainability and equity across communities in Japan and the U.S. with an emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area. By designing and implementing arts and cultural programs, we achieve our vision through intercultural collaborations and dialogues, centering underrepresented voices and stories from the diverse peoples we serve. Website

Produced by the U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network, Inc. (CTN) and presented in association with Shap & Fine and Theatre of Yugen.

This project is made possible by the support from the California Arts Council, WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous individual donors.

NOHSpace COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols: We ask that all audience members remain masked at all times in the building, including the lobby, restroom and hallways, except for when actively eating or drinking. Click for more information