SHION YOKOO | contemporary performing artist
Shion Yokoo expresses herself and her surroundings in (performing) arts humanely and honestly, exploring theatricality and anti-theatricality in both theoretical and practical terms. Originally from Japan and currently residing in Estonia, she obtained her BA in dance from the Viljandi Culture Academy and MA in semiotics from the University of Tartu. She continues her research at Tallinn University (PhD).
Translator and interpreter (Estonian/English to Japanese) at Kotnoha OÜ.
Education
2024- Tallinn University, Studies of Cultures (PhD) in Estonia
2022-2024 University of Tartu, Semiotics (MA) in Estonia
2017-2022 University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, Dance (BA) in Estonia
2016-2017 Exchange student at University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, Dance studies in Estonia
2015-2017 Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies in Japan
2013-2016 Hagiya Kyoko Contemporary Dance Research Centre in Japan
2012-2013 Conservatoire de Grand Chalon (classical ballet) in France
1998-2014 Dance Academy Step in Japan
Works
2024 Perfortmative installation "Peal kiri peal" with Keisuke Sugawara, the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024, Koidu
Seltsimaja in Viljandi
2022 Koidu residency showing, installation, Koidu Seltsimaja in Viljandi
2022 “Ritual of Rice and Performance”, workshop/performance, Japanese Day at Tallinn School of Music and Ballet
2022 “Palun kasta, kui mind siin ei ole (Please Water if I am not here)”, installation, festival of Asian wordless theatre “1000 Cranes”
2022 “Palun kasta, kui mind siin ei ole (Please Water if I am not here)”, installation
2022 “Antiteatraalsuse ilmingud Eesti etenduskunstimaastikul (Antitheatricality’s Appearances in Estonian Contemporary Performing Arts)”
2022 “How I learnt to provide my cat with what she expected from me”
2021 “Transnational data transmission performance”, with Jari Matsi, Judith Parts and Rommi Ruttas in Made in Estonia Maraton
2021 “so-lost”
2020 “Ma annan teada, et ma sooviks (I let you know that I would wish)”, with Jaana Persidski
2019 “Krobeline lilla (Rough Violet)”
2017 “Tahan, Tahaks, Tahaksin (I want, would like, I would like)”
2016 “Sinanekas”
Performer
2024 Britt Kõrsmaa "between me and the fish I once was" at Pirita river, Estonia
2024 Maarja Tosin "Arti-san" at Tallinn University BFM, Estonia
2023 Karolin Poska “Lucky Charm” at Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Estonia
2023 Laura Cemin ja Bianca Hisse “How the Land Lies” at Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava
2022 Estonian Fashion Festival Moe-Performance-Tants (Fashion-Performance-Dance)
2020 Jaana Persidski “Vanaema on looja (Grandmother is a Creator)” Made in Estonia Maraton
2019 Rommi Ruttas’s video “Hoovi Pets” (Priit Ruttas) Made in Estonia Maraton
2019 Kristiin Kulpson "Zwangsneurose"
2019 Katrin Tammjärv “MA ei ole (I am not)”
2019 Jaana Persidski “Tüdruk võimsa riistaga (Girl with Powerful Tool)”
2019 Daniela Privis “Jaak (Jack)”
2021 Co-author and performer of University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy personal graduation ceremony
2019 Dancer in a music video “NAFTA” by Kangelased
2018 Performer in NOËP’s concert visuals
2018 Performer at MyHits Award on the stage of NOËP
Publications
“Performing Arts in Estonia”
in International Theatre Exchange Seminar -2021-, Japan Director’s Association
in TantsuKuukiri nr 122 (December 2022), Estonian Union of Dance Art and Dance Education
“Kursus kui eksperiment (The Course as Experiment)”, co-author, edited by Kärt Koppel
in TantsuKuukiri nr 118 (June 2022), Estonian Union of Dance Art and Dance Education
“Anti-war ja antiteatraalsus (Anti-war and Antitheatricality)”
in TantsuKuukiri nr 115 (March 2022), Estonian Union of Dance Art and Dance Education
Others
July 26, 2022 Guest lecture on Estonian performing arts at Nihon University in Japan
(Tetsusei Yokoo “Teaching methods of Art”)
June 15-October 3, 2021 Participated in Cultural Innovation Leadership Program
June 10-14, 2019 Participated in Dama 28 workshop Expressive Gestures and Motion Capture Technology in Visby, Sweden
