A profile of NORIKOSHI, Takao

A profile of NORIKISHI,Takao

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As a TWISTED DANCE CRITIC
In the 80's, Norikoshi used to be a dancer. Since he starts writing dance reviews, his points of view has been appreciated by many people because of that his view always contains full of insights.

In addition, unlike the other critics, his standing position is very clear and fare. Norikoshi has been keeping from authoritarianism that is the reason he call himself "TWISTED DANCE CRITIC". There are@many@people@in@various@fields@who@support Takao Norikoshifs view.

His main published is a dance book "THE CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFECT GUIDE BOOK" (Sakuhinsha) which covered introduces of contemporary choreographers in the world and Japan. Soon this book hits the Japanese dance world and becomes one of the new standard books for Japanese dance people.

Not only the contemporary dance, but he also published a ballet book, which titled "120DAYS BATTLE OF TETSUYA KUMAKAWA", is writing about a Japanese principal of the Royal Ballet Theatre.

Now, his work becomes broad. It is not only writing criticize for news papers , magazines and programs for a dance shows, but also lecture for Waseda University and talk shows about dance in many place. Recent regular writing work is for the web magazine "Real Tokyo" and "ART iT", an art magazine.

In the nest year 2007, his new publish will come, which based articles that used to be wrote for a magazine "Ballet" for 4 years.

He researches very well about international contemporary dance in unique countries. Through the research experience, he often works as an adviser for many dance festivals.

In 2006, the Japan Society of New York accepted him in fellowship. He stayed in U.S.A. and researched the American dance.

In 2007, Director of the dance festivalgGIAPPONE DANZAhin Genova, Italy

In 2006 and 2009, Committee member of the International Dance Triennale Tokyo.( This is the biggest international dance festival in Japan.)

In 2007, Director of Tokyo Performing Arts Market.

In 2007, He wrote about recent Japanese dance for Dance festival of Portugal "no fundo do fundo 2007"

New York Times interview Norikoshi about Japanese dance and sometime quoted his opinion.

As An Author And The Captain of "Japan Jazz-Age Investigation Party"
Beside of the contemporary dance criticize work, he also has been researching about Japanese old entertainment before the WW2 (Japan Jazz-Age is late for the US original 10 years). Norikoshi organized a small party in 1999. By the research, he published 2 pbooks.

"Danshingu Oru Raifu, Nakagawa Saburo Monogatari (Dancing All-Life: the History of Saburo Nakagawa, Shueisha)"In this book, Takao Norikoshi wrote about a tap dancer, Saburo Nakagawa (1916-2003) who moved to New York to study tap dancing at the age of 18, before the World War II, and became a star in Japan later.

"Arisu, Burodowei Wo Miryo Shita Tensai Dansa Kawahata Fumiko Monogatari (Alice: the Story of Kawahata Fumiko, Kodansha)" Norikoshi wrote a book about a Japanese-American who was born in Hawaii, Alice Fumiko Kawahata (1916- ). She started her career in show business at the age of 9 in Los Angeles and became a star in Broadway musical shows at the age of 13. Alice Fumiko Kawahata who made the first appearance at Nippon Theater at the age of 17 but suddenly retired from show business just before the World War II.
This book was introduced in Japan Times and kept in Japan American National Museum in Los Angeles.
In May 2004, the book was introduced in TV program, and Norikoshi appeared in the program, too. The book was also rewritten for musical show, gMy Blue Heaven, Story of Fumiko Kawahatah and performed 80 stages in various theaters in Japan.
Now he is co-writing with Masahisa Segawa, a Jazz music critic, about the show business in Japan before and after WW2.
Those works would be very valuable for the future because is very important to write down about great entertainment histories or biographical stories before the people pass a way.

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