Takeshi Matsumoto - møt kunstneren

Photo: Summer Dean

Takeshi Matsumoto is a Japanese dance artist, performer and choreographer, based in the UK. He is a founder of Seven Circles. He is also a qualified dance movement psychotherapist, having experience in working with children with autism and learning disabilities both in the UK and Japan. Growing up in Japan, his practice both in life and performing art is influenced by 和-Wa, harmony, peacefulness, quiet and contentment ways of living and balancing with others and environment.

Since 2007, Takeshi has developed his practice in the UK and beyond alongside collaborating with dance artists in performance making such as Christian Duarte, Henri Oguike, Darren Johnston, Beatrice Allegranti, Paul-Andre Fortier, Anthea Hamilton, 2nd Hand Dance and Hagit Yakira.

Recently, he has been engaged with performance for young audiences, especially early years under 5 years old. Since 2016, Takeshi has been making performance works for this demographic group and touring nationally and internationally in order to lift the barrier for children’s access to dance performances.

He continues to explore possibilities of dance and performance as a way of acknowledging differences and creating mutual understanding with particular emphasis on empathy, communication, empowerment and body mind integration.

Image From: We Touch, We Play, We Dance by Second Hand Dance, photo by Zoe Manders