The Spirit of Obon with Nobuko Miyamoto

Through the spirit of Obon, a folk dance honoring those who’ve passed on, we disrupt and awaken a new movement experience outside the theatrical proscenium and illuminate the importance of making dances for communities. 

Nobuko Miyamoto is an icon of Asian American music and activism. Since the early 1970s, she has been exploring ways to reclaim and re-spirit our minds, bodies, histories, and communities, using the arts to create social change and forge solidarity.  Join folk dancer, Chie Saito, and KAMBARA+ dancer, Lani Yamanaka, in learning Nobuko’s Bon Odori dance Kangie (Gathering of Joy).

Developer and Exhibit Designer: John Crawford
Technical Artists: Kris Pilcher and Onur Topal-Sümer
Technology and Design Consultant: Milka Trajkova

Volumetric capture at Metastage Studio

“Kangie” was commissioned by the Buddhist Churches of America Music Committee.
Choreography: Nobuko Miyamoto. Music: Nobuko Miyamoto (composer, lyricist, vocals). Derek Nakamoto: Composer, arranger. Isaku Kageyama: Taiko. Mike Penny: Shamisen. Mark Izu: Sho. Kaoru Watanabe: Shinobue, ryuteki. Kenny Endo: Tsuzumi, percussion. Nancy Sekizawa: Vocals. Helen Ota: Vocals. Reverend Masao Kodani: Vocals. Reverend Ryuta Furumoto: Vocals. Recorded at The Nest, Los Angeles; Chris Sorem: Sound Engineer.

Thank you to Noah Posner and Georgia Tech’s Interactive Product Design Lab

NI DO TO installations will be free and open to the public in the lobby of the Ferst Center for the Arts on the Georgia Tech campus.

Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., October 3 - 27 (closed Oct. 21 for home football game).