AKI SUZUKI （Akeno）                                         

Butoh Dancer, Choreographer

After studying Butoh, Japanese Dance, Classical and Modern Ballet and Jazz Dance, Aki Suzuki (Akeno) became one of the most successful Japanese Butoh dancers on the international scene. 

1988-1999

She performed the main role in 'Far from the Lotus' at the Edinburgh International Festival as well as at the New York Joyce Theatre, Adelaide International Festival, Indonesian Dance Festival, Israel International Festival and Amsterdam Europaria Japan festival.

She performed also in following cities in U.S.A.: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Minneapolis and in Australia in Darwin. This solo version was in Paris, Vienna, Krems, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Taipei.

1989-1994

Opera de Lyon’s ‘Madame Butterfly'

1998

The film ‘Kiko-traveller is my name’ directed by Minna Tarkka

Asian Festival at “Aleksanterin teatteri “ organized by Jukka O. Miettinen.

Working for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma, in Helsinki Finland, she choreographed together with Molissa Fenley the opening program 'TRIAD' – A live teleprecence performance on the Internet” connecting the cities of New York-Tokyo-Helsinki, directed by Marikki Hakola.

1993-1999

She produced, directed and performed 'Tele-Presence' and other works as the 'Akeno Project 1-7' at the Tokyo SONY Building.

1999

Aki separated from the Butoh company and started working as an independent solo dancer.

2000

Aki began to develop in Helsinki her own original dance style and method - 'Body and Presence'- beyond Butoh supported by the Japan Foundation ‘Dispatch’ Fellowship Program.

2001

Aki choreographed Jotaarkka Pennanen’s production of Ibsen’s 'Peer Gynt' for the Helsinki Swedish Theatre, and also the Finnish National Opera’s 'Tuulisilta' (Almi Hall). In December she choreographed and danced ‘Shift’ CD-Rom directed by Mika Tuomola at UIAH.

In January 2002

Aki presented her own original improvised performance with media Marita Liulia artist and musician Kimmo Phojonen, Ars-01 'Manipulator', at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma, Helsinki.

2002

Europe cultural in Bruges Belgium ‘’Manipulator’’

2003

Sibelius Academy, joint session with classical guitar by Rody van Gemert.

2003

Tallinn Dancestudio ‘Baroque-brides to the past’ kadriorg Palace, dance combines contemporary and butoh with  Fine Five.   

Von Krahl Theatre 11anniversary years event with Peeter Jalakas.

2004

Eestti Ballaadid, Tallinn Soolinna, composed by Verijo Tormis, conducted by Tonu Kaljusta ,directed by Peeter Jalkas, Von Krahl Theatre and choreograghed by Aki Suzuki.

Along the production she arranged Butoh Dance training for the actors of the theatre.

For 15 years Aki has worked extensively developing dance and movement performances with musicians through improvisation, and in the arena of computer-supported and enhanced performance in real and virtual space, with special emphasis on the nature of place.