Out of the Dust is one of three components of the Sankei project, presented by Georgia Tech Arts and created in collaboration with a team of partners led by KAMBARA+. Learn more about the Sankei project.

Co-Created by Yayoi Kambara and Brian Staufenbiel 

Directed by Brian Staufenbiel

Choreography by Yayoi Kambara and Cast 

Sound Design and Original Music by Miles Lassi

Poetry written and read by Janice Mirikitani

Additional Music Composition by Paul Chihara, performed by Colin Jacobsen

Ei Ja Nai Ka Obon Dance Choreography by PJ Hirabayashi

Cast / Dancers:

Erik Debono, Farmer (duet)

PJ Hirabayashi, Spirit Guide

Mimi Jacobsen, Lost Child

Yayoi Kambara, Woman with Comb

Momoe Luce Kambara-Coughlin, Child 

Kaia Makihara, Baseball Player

Maile Okamura, Seamstress

Lani Yamanaka, Farmer (duet)

Mark Yamanaka, Doctor

Creative Producer - Courtney Ozaki, Japanese Arts Network

Costume Coordination  - Maile Okamura 

Hair and Makeup Design - Jenny-King Turko

Costume Tailor - Annette Ribeiro 

Film Editor - Sam Clevenger 

Lead Camera Operator - Jeffrey Gass

Second Camera / Steadicam Operator - Jonathan Takenaka

Assistant Camera Operator / Focus Puller - Yoshiki Abe

Special thanks to Manzanar National Historic Preservation Site and Christine Holtslander, Alisa Lynch Broch, Roger Myoroku, and David Murakami.

Out of the Dust was filmed in conjunction with IKKAI means once: a transplanted pilgrimage which was commissioned by the Japanese American Citizens League San Jose Chapter and funded by the Hewlett Foundation, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, the Japanese American Citizens League Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Dancers’ Group’s CA$H Dance, the Fleishhacker Foundation, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.