The first batch of artists for “KYOTO EXPERIMENT Kyoto International Performing Arts Festival 2024,” a festival that welcomes artists from Japan and abroad to perform performing arts works, has been announced.
In 2024, the 15th edition of the festival will be held from October 5 (Saturday) to October 27 (Sunday) at venues such as Rohm Theatre Kyoto and Kyoto Art Center. The first wave of announcements includes five dance artists from overseas: Alessandro Sciarroni, “(La) Horde with Marseille National Ballet,” Ola Maciejewska, Christian Rizzo, and Matilde Monnier & Dominique Figarella. All performances presented will be Japan premieres.
Alessandro Sciarroni from Rome, Italy, is an artist who incorporates techniques and practices derived from fields such as theater, dance, sports, and circus arts into his creations. During his visit to Japan this time, he will present the project “The Last Dance Belongs to Me,” which focuses on continuing the traditional Italian folk dance “Polka Chinata,” traditionally danced by men since the early 1900s. The project includes performances and workshops and will be unveiled at the Kyoto Art Center Hall on October 5 (Saturday) and October 6 (Sunday).

(La) Horde from Marseille, France, is an artist collective that challenges the norms of artistic forms by incorporating elements from pop culture, film, and street dance. Collaborating with Loane, a key figure in France’s electronic music scene, they have created “Room With a View.” This production features 18 dancers from the Marseille National Ballet, gathered from 12 countries. It will be performed at the Rohm Theatre Kyoto South Hall on October 5 (Saturday) and October 6 (Sunday).


©Cyril Moreau
French choreographer Ola Maciejewska, known for her interdisciplinary approach to dance, will present two works that reconstruct the “Serpentine Dance,” manipulating silk costumes that envelop the entire body. The theatrical piece “Bonbix Mori,” performed by three dancers, will be staged at Rohm Theatre Kyoto North Hall on October 11 (Friday) and October 12 (Saturday). Additionally, her solo performance piece “Loie Fuller: Research” will be presented on October 14 (Monday, public holiday) at the Kyoto Art Center Auditorium.

©Ola Maciejewska Studio
Christian Rizzo from Montpellier, France, is a versatile artist with talents spanning sculptor, designer, musician, choreographer, stage designer, and opera director. “D’après une histoire vraie-本当にあった話から” to be performed at Kyoto Art Theater Shunjuza on October 12 (Sat) and 13 (Sun) is a creation inspired by Rizzo’s vivid impression of male dancers in Istanbul. Since its premiere in 2013, the piece has been performed worldwide.

©Denise Oliver Fierro

©Marc Domage
Mathilde Monnier from Montpellier, France, served as artistic director at the National Dance Center (CND) in Paris from 2013 to 2019 and is returning to Japan after 11 years for a performance. Collaborating with visual artist Dominique Figarella, their work “Soap Opera” expands into “Soap Opera, Installation,” where dancers interact with a large mass of foam on stage. The performance will be staged at Rohm Theatre Kyoto North Hall from October 18 (Fri) to 20 (Sun).

©Marc Coudrais
The five artists announced this time are collaborating with “Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels,” a partnership that began in 2022 as part of KYOTO EXPERIMENT. Tickets for “(La) Horde, Loan with Marseille National Ballet ‘Room With a View'” and Christian Rizzo’s “‘D’après une histoire vraie – From a True Story'” will go on presale starting from 10:00 AM on July 13 (Saturday) via Ticket Pia and other outlets. Additionally, from August 9 (Friday), “Set Tickets” will be available, allowing audiences to choose three performances from a selection of free passes and paid programs.
KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2024

Dates: October 5 (Sat) – October 27 (Sun), 2024 [23 days]
Venues: Rohm Theater Kyoto, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto Art Theater Shunjuza, THEATRE E9 KYOTO, etc.
Participating artists:
Alessandro Sciarroni [Rome, Italy]
(LA)HORDE, Rone with the Ballet national de Marseille [Marseille, France]
Ola Maciejewska [Prisiak, France]
Christian Rizzo [Montpellier (FRANCE)]
Mathilde Monnier & Dominique Figarella [Montpellier (France)]
Organizer: Kyoto International Performing Arts Festival Executive Committee
[Kyoto City, Rohm Theater Kyoto (Kyoto City Foundation for Promotion of Music, Arts and Culture)]
Kyoto Performing Arts Center (Kyoto Arts Foundation), Kyoto Performing Arts Research Center, Kyoto University of Arts,
THEATRE E9 KYOTO (Arts Seed Kyoto)], KYOTO EXPERIMENT
Dance program co-sponsored by ☞ Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels ( https://www.dancereflections-vancleefarpels.com/ja/kyoto-saitama )
Ticket sales
☞ Ticket Pia: Online| https://t.pia.jp
☞ RHOME THEATER KYOTO TICKET COUNTER 〈(La)orde, Lorne & Ballet National de Marseille only
Online| https://www.s2.e-get.jp/kyoto/pt/ [ Pre-registration required (free of charge)].
Reservations by phone| 075-746-3201
Contact| 1F, 13 Okazaki Saikyoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Service Hours| 10:00-17:00 Open all year round (except for holidays)
☞ Kyoto Art Theater Ticket Center 〈Handles only Christian Rizzo
Online|https://k-pac.org/ticket/ [ advance registration required (free)
Reservations by phone|075-791-8240
2-116 Uryuyama, Kita-Shirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (Ningenkan 1F, Kyoto University of Art)
Hours: Weekdays 10:00-17:00
Only online tickets are available on sale days. Tickets can be reserved by phone or at the box office from 10:00 on 7/16 (Tue.).
Information on set tickets
KYOTO EXPERIMENT offers “set tickets” that allow you to choose your favorite 3 performances from the paid programs and purchase them all at the same time for a discount. The set tickets will go on sale on August 9 (Fri.), when tickets go on sale to the general public.
Please note that tickets already purchased in the pre-sale cannot be converted to set tickets at a later date.