Critic's Pick — Hiroaki Umeda: 'assimilating' & 'Moving State 1'

If you were lucky enough to be in the audience for one of Hiroaki Umeda’s thrilling performances at OZ Arts back in 2019, then you already understand just how wildly imaginative this celebrated choreographer, dancer and multidisciplinary artist’s work can be. Known for his compelling blend of movement and technology — including otherworldly sound, imagery and lighting — Umeda “creates high-velocity, visually stunning experiences that blur the line between installation and live performance.” Based in Tokyo, he is widely recognized as a driving force in Japan’s avant-garde arts scene. This weekend, he’s back at OZ Arts, wrapping up a five-city U.S. tour that has included stops in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The program features two particularly intriguing performances — Umeda’s electrifying solo work assimilating, along with his “cinematic group work” Moving State 1, which features four female hip-hop performers from his groundbreaking Somatic Field Project.

March 26-28 at OZ Arts

6172 Cockrill Bend Circle