The coming together of South East Asian countries in a performing art!

James Khangenbam *

Performing Art Project called 'Cross Transit'

Under the theme of Soil, a performing artists Akiko Kitamura from Japan was looking for collaboration in South East Asian countries. One of her friends recommended to visit Manipur.

In 2015, she made a short visit to the State and witnessed martial arts and very few of Manipuri dance performances. She came across Oja Mangangsana of Laihui before she leaves.

She seems to have been impressed by Indigenous Manipuri music. Upon sharing social media links of Laihui to her teammates in Japan, a music composer Hiroaki Yokoyama was keen in visiting Manipur. Soon after Oja Mangangsana hosted him and in his short stay for few days he was introduced to Pena Music and other folk music.

Oja Mangangsana became a part of the performing art project called Cross Transit initiated by Akiko Kitamura.

Artists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan and Manipur of India together makes the project.

The similarity in culture, food habit, myth, legend, folklore, body movement, gesture, dances put Manipur in the South East Asian countries. The project took place at Japan in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The performance "Vox Soil" from the Cross Transit project won Japan Dance Forum Award 2018.

In the artistic collaboration, Oja Mangangsana had to tell lots of stories and keep on composing music with Hiraoki Yokohama. They came up with lots of experimental songs originating from vocal, pena and songs arising from vocals while the body is in different movement.

Performing Art Project called 'Cross Transit'

Keen research on the people of Sado island where the Kodo Ensemble is very popular was undertaken. They keep on observing the architecture, food habit, culture and day to day life of various Asia countries.

Likewise, a month or two long residencies took place in various part of Japan and Oja Manganagsana had to make 4 trips and many performances at Japan during a span of three years in the Cross-Transit project. He took the role of Dramaturg, Composer and Performer in the project.

While composing music Oja Mangangsana and Hiroaki had to look for tonal similarities in the spoken languages of different Asian countries. The meaning may differ but the tones make a meeting point for the musical composition.

The performing artists had to speak and sing in their languages and the similar tones were picked up for a musical composition. Oja Mangangsana and Hiroaki had to listen to songs from the Asain countries and channelize the rhythm and melody while keeping the originality.

Cross Transit though halted by Covid is coming back and the team strengthen with artist who would represent more countries from South East Asia is ready to roll out in the near future. The deep research involved in the project and experiential original knowledge sharing among artists from different countries is a far-sighted approach towards understanding the place we live in called Earth.

While reaching out to Akiko for the article she said that, " 'Cross Transit' is named from my thought, such as an endless trip for quest of melting Asian culture in contemporary way and the transformation of performing arts' notion.. in the future .. to experience/produce unknown phenomenon together".