Report on the 2nd event of “Ballet Mirai Seat” to support elementary and junior high school students 14 elementary and junior high school students who are chasing their dreams were invited to a workshop where they could learn performance from “prof

[2nd event report of “Ballet Mirai Seat” to support elementary and junior high school students] 14 elementary and junior high school students who are chasing their dreams were invited to a workshop exchange meeting to learn expression from “professionals” and to watch a ballet performance ​
Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. Press release: July 2, 2025 [Report on the 2nd “Ballet Mirai Seat” event to support elementary and junior high school students] 14 elementary and junior high school students who are chasing their dreams were invited to a workshop exchange event to learn expression from “professionals” and to watch a ballet performance Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasumoto Michinori) and Chacott Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Baba Akinori) are collaborating with the New National Theatre Foundation (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Zeniya Mami) to implement a special project called “Ballet Mirai Seats” to support elementary and junior high school students who will lead the future of the ballet world. On Saturday, June 21, 14 elementary and junior high school students who are passionate about ballet were invited to the second “Ballet Mirai Seat” twice, once in the afternoon and once in the evening. After a workshop where they learned about the importance of expression, which is important in ballet without lines, from Miwa Motoshima, the acting director of the New National Theatre Ballet Training Center, they watched the New National Theatre Ballet Company’s performance of “Alice in Wonderland”. They also had a social gathering with Motoshima during the intermission.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-dc06310633c056723b78c6d66ff6d108-1500×1000.jpg ■The journey to the event ・Saturday, April 5, 2025 – Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (National Holiday) We recruited participants for this project by dropping off letters about their “dreams for the future” and “questions they would like to ask Motoshima” in special postboxes set up at Chacott Daikanyama and the New National Theatre. In addition to setting up the postboxes, we also recruited participants by mail, and received thoughtful letters from all over Japan, including Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Ishikawa, Shiga, and Okayama. ・Mid May 2025 Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-16a81de09bdd76aa0f9ea243a590af32-1000×1000.jpg Mr. Motoshima and the office carefully read each and every letter that we received from you all. We sent invitations to the “Ballet Mirai Seats” to 14 people (7 groups per session, totaling 28 children and their accompanying parents) ■Event day ・Program (Daytime) • 11:35 ~ 12:20 Workshop exchange meeting • 13:00 ~ “Alice in Wonderland” starts • Around 13:50 Break (socializing with Motoshima-san) • Around 14:45 Break • Around 15:50 Performance ends ・Workshop Networking Event After checking in at the stage door of the much-anticipated New National Theatre, we headed to the rehearsal room where the workshop networking event was held.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-f255f2880b1a69478d34100a8fbee63b-1500×1095.jpg At the workshop networking session, Motoshima first introduced us to some mime movements.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-159706ec61b032d1f6fd31deb8a1a05a-1500×1000.jpg Next, we watched a video of the stage production of “Sleeping Beauty.” The performers explained the characters’ feelings and the story, including the intention behind their movements and the meaning of their gazes. I was also taught the importance of “subtext.” “Subtext” refers to feelings that are not written in the lines (= text). Ballet does not have lines, but there is choreography that expresses lines as mime. “Subtext,” which is not choreography but is conveyed through gaze and slight body angles, is also very important.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-39915568254ac1ebbfe25550f91160a5-1500×1000.jpg Afterwards, they practiced the choreography accompanied by live music from ballet lesson pianist Inaba. Everyone took photos with Motoshima and had a great time.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-a60e5f06d3e3240b1c1831e83be21cb7-1500×1000.jpg ・Watched “Alice in Wonderland”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-9b8d48515a505abbbf7201c7327bf4f1-800×533.jpg Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland(C) by Christopher WHEELDON Set and Costume Designer: Bob CROWLEY Lighting Designer: Natasha KATZ Photographer: Takashi Shikamata Alice: Akane Takada White Rabbit: Mizuki Nakajima “Alice in Wonderland” is a fantasy work that depicts the mysterious adventures of a young girl, Alice, who gives her lover, Jack, a gardener, a homemade jam tart. After Jack is chased away from home due to a misunderstanding, Alice is overcome with grief when her family friend Lewis Carroll suddenly transforms into the White Rabbit. Alice follows him into a world ruled by the Queen of Hearts, who looks just like Alice’s mother, and finds Jack, who has transformed into a knight, being accused of a crime. To save him, Alice travels to a fantastical world where dreams and reality intersect. The New National Theatre is performing a production choreographed by British genius Christopher Wheeldon, which is attracting attention. It is a new masterpiece of modern ballet that combines innovative direction using video and stage equipment with a humorous and poetic story. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-c02268cad7f210dba0d001bad4712000-3000×2000.jpg For the invited seats, we have prepared seat covers exclusive to the “Ballet Mirai Seat”. You can take them home after the performance and use them as a drawstring bag, perfect for storing your ballet shoes. The seat numbers are hand-embroidered on each seat, making this a special item that has been carefully crafted to ensure you don’t forget this special day. ・During breaks The three-act “Alice in Wonderland” ballet performance has breaks between acts. At the buffet (counter) in the theater, finger foods and other light snacks, seasonal sweets, and drinks are available so that you can enjoy your breaks. This time, participants in the “Ballet Mirai Seat” were provided with light meals and drinks in a special lounge. Motoshima also appeared and shared her thoughts on the performance, answering questions such as “How did you become a ballet dancer?” and “What kind of stretching do you do?” and the time flew by.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-48d24892abf3c5b6c8f4fc5f69edd4f4-1500×1146.jpg ■Message from Miwa Motoshima
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/33942/200/33942-200-64206aa569fffb07b1b3697ae8f6ae6e-1500×1000.jpg Thank you so much for all the letters. It was a very valuable opportunity to hear your voices. This time, we planned it with the hope that not only will you learn about mime, but you will also learn how to convey emotions through more than just choreography. Although it was a short time, it was very fun to actually see you all grow. We will continue to support all of you as you pursue your dreams with integrity. ■Special event “Ballet Mirai Seat” implementation details Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Contents: Workshop and exchange event by Miwa Motoshima “Learn through mime experience”, ballet performance viewing Venue: New National Theatre (1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0071) Target performance: New National Theatre Ballet “Alice in Wonderland” 1. Start time 13:00 / 2. Start time 18:30 *This offer applies to one performance. Number of participants: 7 groups, 14 people per session (total of 28 children and accompanying guardians) ◇Report on the first “Ballet Mirai Seat” event
https://www.onward-hd.co.jp/release/2025/20250116.html ■Background of the special project “Ballet Mirai Seat” Onward Holdings has been a special support corporate group since August 2015, sponsoring the New National Theatre, Japan’s only national theatre for contemporary performing arts, and contributing to the development of art and culture. Chacott has also been a corporate supporting member of the New National Theatre since its founding, and has accompanied art lovers from all over the world. Arts and culture are said to shape important human qualities, such as creativity, sensitivity, and communication skills. In particular, children’s appreciation and experience of arts and culture is highly effective in nurturing rich “creativity and imagination.” ※1 In this special project, we hope to help children to develop bigger dreams and goals through watching ballet performances and experiencing interaction with professional dancers that they admire. In addition, in recent years, people often use computers and smartphones, and there are fewer opportunities to write letters by hand. In this environment, we hope to improve communication skills and self-expression by expressing one’s feelings through letters. ※2 ※1 Research on the promotion of child development through culture and the arts in FY2023 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/shinshin/kodomo/ikuseijigyo_kensho/pdf/94040401_01.pdf ※2 “Survey on letters and interpersonal communication skills” (Neo Marketing Co., Ltd.)
https://corp.neo-m.jp/report/investigation/life_016/ ■Overview of the New National Theatre Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation The New National Theatre, as Japan’s only national theatre for contemporary performing arts, produces and stages opera, ballet, dance and theatre performances, and provides training for artists. It hosts around 300 world-class performances a year at its three theatres: the Opera Palace, the Medium Theatre and the Small Theatre. In the dance department, the New National Theatre Ballet was established in 1997 when the New National Theatre opened. It is one of Japan’s leading ballet companies, with a wide repertoire, Japan’s top ballet dancers, and a spectacular corps de ballet that is considered to be at a world-class level. From the 2020/2021 season, under the leadership of Miyako Yoshida, who has been active as a principal in the UK for many years, the company is working to popularize ballet as one of Japan’s leading ballet companies and continues to make further progress. ■Overview of Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. Founded in 1927 as “Kashiyama Shoten”. Currently, the company is promoting business in three areas: “fashion”, “wellness”, and “corporate design”, and is expanding its business overseas in three regions: “Europe”, “America”, and “Asia”. Under our mission statement of “Bringing abundance and color to people and the planet,” we will continue to move forward as a “lifestyle culture creation company” that contributes to creating a “abundant and colorful” lifestyle that coexists with the earth through “customer-centered management that makes use of the diverse
personalities of our employees.” Established: September 4, 1947 Representative: Michinobu Yasumoto, Representative Director and President Head office: Onward Park Building, 3-10-5 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8239 URL: https://www.onward-hd.co.jp/ ■ Overview of Chacott Co., Ltd. Founded in 1950. With the rise of ballet in Japan after the war, the company expanded its dance and fitness business, including ballet supplies. In 1990, the company became a subsidiary of Onward Holdings, and now Chacott’s stage is expanding beyond the stage to life, expanding not only in the dance field but also into the cosmetics business derived from stage makeup. Representative: Akinori Baba, Representative Director and President Address: Onward Bay Park Building, 3-9-32 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8439 Established: April 1961 (Showa 36), founded in 1950 Business: Manufacturing and sales of ballet, dance, fitness, and cosmetic products, and management of dance studios URL: https://www.chacott-jp.com/ More information about this release *This email was sent automatically, so please do not reply.