Alys Ayumi Ogura (she/her/hers) is a storyteller through her movement, voice and quirky humor. Her dance training began in Japan, where she learned from the now late Mika Kurosawa, the famed godmother of Japanese contemporary dance. She earned a BA in Theater Studies from Westmar University, and her theater training concluded with her earning the “most outstanding student” award from the school’s Theater and Dance Department.
Her choreographies and performances have been curated for the Walker Art Center’s Choreographer’s Evening by Megan Mayer, and for BodyCartography Project’s/HIJACK’s Future Interstates. Ogura has worked since 2010 in the Twin Cities’ thriving arts community. As a way of giving back to the Twin Cities arts community, Ogura serves as a DanceMN steering-committee member, and she supports MN Artist Coalition efforts. She most recently performed in Generic Minneapolis, by Emily Gastineau, and she is set to be part of the April Sellers Dance Collective’s summer residency/tour. Ogura is a former Arts Organizing Institute fellow (2017-18) through the Pangea World Theater, and a 2021 Naked Stages fellow, managed by Pillsbury House Theatre and funded by the Jerome Foundation.
DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
The Yumi-Talk Series is now Ogura’s life work. This series of episodes is based on multiple characters, such as Yumi, the cheerleader, Yumi, the receptionist, and others, and you will hear some social commentary and personal stories that have been percolating in Ogura’s inner landscape. I’m thinking of making each episode highly improvised, and I may call on the audience to help decide which stories to hear. These stories may relate directly to a short Asian woman with an accent (like me), or they could be universal.
This series will challenge what we think we can see, compared to what’s behind the illusion, or are able to hear, but we miss the parts we can’t hear. Want to learn more? I guess you have to show up to witness Ogura scream, “What Do You Mean, You Still Can’t See it!?” Yes, that is the working title. This work-in-progress is based on and expanded on “Never Underestimate a Short Asian Woman with an Accent,” a one-person show created during Naked Stages 2021, and directed by Sarah Myers. It includes movement, narratives, not-so-great singing, and hopefully enough humor.
IF YOU WERE A TYPE OF CANDY, WHAT TYPE OF CANDY WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?
Maybe Crystalized Ginger? I really don’t know what I would be; perhaps something with a little spice wrapped in a seemingly plain package. Hopefully…
Happy Hour Artist Performances | Daily, 5:30 – 6:30pm
- Monday, May 2 – Alys Ayumi Ogura
- Tuesday, May 3 – Margaret Ogas
- Wednesday, May 4 – Ayumi Shafer
- Thursday, May 5 – Alexandra Bodnarchuk
- Friday, May 6 – Emily Michaels King
Image from “What Do You Mean, You Still Can’t See it!?”
Photo by Bruce Silcox
Image from “What Do You Mean, You Still Can’t See it!?”
Photo by Bruce Silcox
Image from “What Do You Mean, You Still Can’t See it!?”
Photo by Bruce Silcox
Image from “What Do You Mean, You Still Can’t See it!?”
Photo by Bruce Silcox