95 RITUALS (for Anna Halprin)

This book documents the performance project 95 Rituals, directed by Shinichi Iova-Koga, performed by physical theater company inkBoat and invited guests, and presented by Dancers’ Group in 2015. Dedicated to post-modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin’s 95th birthday, 95 Rituals culminated in a series of scored performances at the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. This book features photographs and writing chronicling the creative process and events.

Buy it here: https://95rituals.org/book/

On July 10, 2015, Rova and inkBoat performed the score by Larry Ochs, entitled “Hidden in Ochre.”  One of the MANY scores performed for 95 Rituals.

95 Rituals culminated July 7-10 at the historic Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. Audience gathered at a beach and were then led to the pier by a musical procession led by performers playing hand-crafted metal and wood chimes made by Musician/Artist Dan Gottwald.

Upon first arrival at the pier, audience came upon “Sliders” a sonic composition by Joshua Kohl (of Degenerate Art Ensemble) and Suki O’Kane, wherein performers sang overlapping individual songs that together made a rich and complex audio collage. This was accompanied by the sound of two men bailing water from and into the bay with metal pails. From the pier, audience were invited onto the Eureka, a beautiful ferry boat retired from service in th 1940’s. Upon first entering the boat, audience were encouraged to explore multiple scores, both sonic and physical that took place throughout the ground floor. Joshua’s “Memory Tree” was a recorded montage of performers’ ruminations on Anna Halprin’s life. In “Engine Room,” Suki O’Kane used a string bow and simple ampification tools to play the boat itself, eliciting live, hauting tones from the inner chamber of the vessel.

On July 9 and 10 we were fortunate to have with us guest perfomers Rova Saxophone Quartet. On July 9th they played “Curling” by John Zorn. On July 10th they performed “Hidden in Ochre” by Larry Ochs. Both nights dancers improvised  while the boat resounded with their music.

Inspired in part by traditional Sea Shanties, the penultimate piece of 95 Rituals was a song in two harmonic parts that the audience learned and sang with us. Composed by Crow Nishimura of Degenerate Art Ensemble, the rousing tune culminated in a communal celebratory swirl of stomping, clapping and waltzing.

From here audience and performers traveled together to gaze at the horizon and watch any final cameos by sea lions, pelicans or gulls.

95 RITUALS culminates this July

Tuesday-Saturday, July 7-11, 5-8pm**
Hyde Street Pier and surrounding area, SF
Free

“Ritual is another word that needs a new definition… Ritual, as I use the term, refers to an artistic process by which people gather and unify themselves in order to confront the challenges of their existence.” ~ Anna Halprin

Performed by inkboat: Yuko Kaseki, Sten Rudstrøm, Heekyung Cho, Joshua Kohl, Crow Nishimura, Dohee Lee, Dana Iova-Koga, Suki O’Kane, Shinichi Iova-Koga and Sherwood Chen; Guest performers: Rova Saxophone Quartet, Oguri and Roxanne Steinberg; Direction: Shinichi Iova-Koga

*No two showings the same; audience can come & go,  or stay for the entire event.

**The Hyde Street Pier normally closes at 5pm and will stay open late for the free 95 Rituals performances

The Hyde Street Pier is part of the San Francisco Maritime Historical Park located off of Jefferson St @ Hyde St.

Find all of the details at 95rituals.org