UNIT SOUZOU: "Constant State of Otherness"

‘Souzou’ can be written in three ways meaning ‘creation’ (創造), ‘imagination’ (想像), or ‘noisy’ (騒々), alluding to a force by which new ideas are born and take shape in the world. Inspired by these words, the mission of Unit Souzou is to build creative, imaginative works while honoring the history and roots of the taiko art form.

Unit Souzou will be presenting their original work "Constant State of Otherness," a multi-layered performance exploring the impacts of the universal experiences of being "other" and feeling alienated. Through taiko, Japanese folk dance, song, and personal stories, performers guide the audience through a journey inspired by experiences of isolation and displacement that come from not having an easy sense of home.

Rooted in ancestral wisdom and survival, "Constant State of Otherness" resists simplistic translations of language, cultural ways, and the complicated emotions that otherness evokes. By allowing their stories to unfold through the resonance of drum, voice, and movement, Unit Souzou offers an invitation to locate our shared longing to belong.

The core of Unit Souzou’s artistic voice is personal and authentic, sound shaped and inspired by form and movement. The essence of Unit Souzou is an expressive blend of taiko and Japanese folk dance, forging new traditions for evolving communities. In addition to creating groundbreaking professional theatrical works, Unit Souzou is deeply committed to sharing taiko through community performances and collaborations, public classes for adults and youth, and school-based education programs.

Unit Souzou was founded in 2014 by Co-directors Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe, relentless innovators at the forefront of a growing artistic movement within the taiko community. Fujii and Watanabe met at Warabi-za, Japan’s foremost traditional folk dance troupe based in Akita, Northern Japan. They have been guest artists and collaborators with many North American and international taiko groups.

Individual paper tickets for this performance will be available approximately 2 weeks before the concert at Del Norte Office Supply in Crescent City, by cash and check only. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door; the box office opens at 5:45 p.m.; doors to the auditorium open at 6:00 p.m. On the night of the performance, credit cards will be accepted for tickets, raffle, and merchandise purchases. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and latecomers will be admitted between numbers.

THERE ARE NO REFUNDS. If you cannot make the performance after purchasing tickets, we recommend you donate them as "Courtesy Seats" through DNACA. These are seats for students and others who would normally be unable to see the concert due to financial limitations.

Health Precautions: All performances will have current (at the time of the concert) health and safety precautions in place, which may include: mask-wearing, limited capacity seating (to encourage safe distancing), temperature checks at entry, entrance/exit flow guidelines, etc. If you would like to know which precautions are in place at the time of the concert, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.

Children: We encourage attending live performances for audience members of all ages. Out of respect for the artists and other audience members, we ask that children attending our performances be seated next to their adult chaperones. Adult guidance is expected.

Accessibility: All of our venues are accessible for scooters and wheelchairs, and have accessible seating.

DNACA is funded, in part, by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at arts.ca.gov. We are also funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. We would be unable to bring such talent to our community without the generous help of our underwriters: Doctor D Autocare, Patty Brunsing, Lisé Hamilton, Bill and Kathy Maffett, Nick & Lisa Rail Music Fund, and Bob and Diane Weir. Our in-kind supporters are Bicoastal Media, Elk Valley Casino, and Del Norte Office Supply.

For more information about DNACA, please visit dnaca.net.