EIKO and KOMA

Eiko & Koma's collaboration began as an experiment in their native Japan, where they both studied with Kazuo Ohno, and then developed into an exclusive partnership. In 1972, their interest in Neue Tanz and non-verbal theater took them to Germany, where they studied with Manja Chmiel, a disciple of Mary Wigman. The Japan Society sponsored the first American performance of Eiko & Koma's White Dance in May of 1976, after which they relocated here. Since then, they have presented their works at theaters, universities, museums, galleries, and festivals across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Eiko & Koma have also created and toured site works. In 1995, they created River, an outdoor environmental exploration performed in bodies of water at twilight. In 1998, the Whitney Museum of American Art commissioned Breath, a "living" gallery installation. In 1999, they presented The Caravan Project, an installation designed for mobile presentation in a specially modified trailer. Beginning in 2002 Eiko & Koma performed many outdoor events they collectively called Offering. The collaborative version of their latest site work, Tree Song, will premiere in the graveyard of St. Mark's Church this May 27-30.

Eiko & Koma were named John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellows for 1984. They were awarded one of the first "Bessies" in 1984 for Grain and Night Tide, and were honored again in 1990 for Passage. They were named MacArthur Fellows in June of 1996. This was the first time in the program's history that the foundation awarded a fellowship to be shared by collaborators. Most recently, they were awarded the 2004 Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement in modern dance. www.eikoandkoma.org