Artist Biographies
Brenda Wong Aoki creates monodramas. Her work synthesizes Japanese Noh and Kyogen theater, Commedia Dell'arte, modern dance and everyday experience. She is acclaimed as one of America's foremost soloists, performing in such venues as the Kennedy Center, New Victory Theater on Broadway, Hong Kong Performing Arts Center, the Adelaide Festival in Australia, the Esplanade in Singapore, the Graz Festival Austria and the Apollo. Of Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Scottish descent, Aoki's bloodlines inspire her work, which include "Obake: Tales of Spirits Past and Present," "The Queen's Garden," "Random Acts," "Mermaid Meat," "Tales of the Pacific Rim," "Skin Privilege," "Kuan Yin: Our Lady of Compassion," and "Uncle Gunjiro's Girlfriend." Brenda has deep roots in San Francisco. Her paternal grandfather was a founder of Japantown in the 1890's, and her maternal grandmother was vice president of the first Chinatown garment union in the 1920's. Brenda's website
Mark Izu's compositions are characterized by his seamless integration of jazz with other music traditions, his mastery of cross-cultural instrumentation, and his ability to compose in many musical disciplines. As the Artistic Director of the Asian American Jazz Festival for 18 years, Izu has gained national and international attention for developing a new musical genre - Asian American Jazz - and has performed with jazz artists such as James Newton, Steve Lacy, Zakir Hussain, George Lewis, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Brown, Jon Jang, and Jin Hi Kim. Izu plays acoustic bass as well as several traditional Asian instruments such as the sheng (Chinese multi-reed instrument) and sho (Japanese multi-reed instrument). Izu has performed his compositions throughout the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe. Izu also composes for film and televison. He received a Northern California Regional EMMY® Award in 2009 for outstanding Musical Composition/Arrangement for his score for Bolinao 52, a film about the Vietnamese Boat People. Mark's website
Janet Koike and Maze Daiko creates an exciting mix of instrumentation and rhythms with the physical elegance and powerful sounds of taiko that fill the stage with energetic choreography and vibrant sound. Maze Daiko's website
Masaru Koga has lived in Japan, the U.S., and Germany. He has been a member of the San Francisco Bay Area musical community for over eleven years. Masaru received a BA degree in Improvised Music Studies from San Jose State University in 1995, where he intensively studied and explored music traditions of different cultures around the world.He has traveled and performed with artists such as Hafez Modirzadeh, Anthony Brown, Mark Izu, Royal Hartigan, and Fred Ho. As a music educator, Masaru directed a youth improvisation workshop at Silicon Valley Youth Conservatory in 1996. Currently he is giving private instructions in the Bay Area and is artistic director of Sambasia. Masaru's goal is to create music that goes beyond styles and idioms, and ultimately help diminish and eliminate boudaries.
Kimi Okada is the ODC Associate Choreographer, ODC School Director, founding member of ODC and has choreographed over 25 works for the company. She was nominated for a Tony award for the Broadway production of Largely New York, and has choreographed for theater, opera, film, television, and circus across the country. As the ODC School Director, Ms. Okada oversees a professional faculty for youth and adults offering 250 dance classes per week.
Jael Weisman plays the role of director for this production and productions for most of Dell'Arte's major works. As a founding member of the Dell'Arte Players Co., Jael pioneered an actor-based theater in which the actors participate directly in the creation of a piece with the director and playwright. He has received many Dramalogue Awards for his work. He has directed and acted with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and won an Obie for his direction of The Dragon Lady's Revenge.
ODC Dance Jam is a youth company of 14 young performers, ages 14-18. The Jam performs the works of Artistic Directors Kimi Okada and KT Nelson as well as other Bay Area guest choreographers. The teens are challenged with sophisticated choreography, professional performance standards, and the goal to achieve the complexities of diverse dance style. The Jam performs in professional venues, schools, and fundraisers for many social service organizations. ODC Dance Jam website
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