On May 21, 2025, Introdans’ new intergenerational dance performance UNUM will celebrate its world premiere during the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
This special premiere, part of the official Dutch programme at the World Expo, will be attended by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander. The King will visit the Dutch pavilion that day to mark the celebration of the Netherlands’ national day at the Expo.
UNUM is an international co-production between Introdans (Arnhem), the Japanese inclusive theatre festival LAND FES, the Sadamatsu-Hamada Ballet Company (Kobe), and the Nieuwe Instituut (Rotterdam). The choreography is a collaboration between Introdans choreographer Adriaan Luteijn and Japanese butoh artist Dai Matsuoka, who is also the artistic director of LAND FES. The performance brings together Introdans dancers, Japanese dancers, and their parents or grandparents.
The title UNUM (Latin for “one” or “unity”) reflects the heart of the performance: connection between generations and the celebration of diversity in dance. The choreography highlights the power of family bonds, the beauty of aging, and the value of inclusion – important themes both in society and in the arts.
Introdans has long been committed to inclusive dance, integrating dancers of various backgrounds, ages, and physical realities into full-fledged artistic productions. UNUM aligns seamlessly with the theme of the Dutch pavilion at the Expo: Creating a new dawn together, with a focus on sustainability – also in a social sense. The cultural programme in Osaka is curated by the Nieuwe Instituut under the title Activating Common Ground.
Following its premiere in Osaka, UNUM will tour the Kansai region, with performances in Kobe (Kobe Bunka Hall) and Kyoto (ROHM Theater). During this tour, choreographers Luteijn and Matsuoka will also host workshops and lectures on inclusive professional dance productions, actively engaging in dialogue with Japanese audiences.
The production of UNUM is made possible in part by support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Japan.