Name: Takeshi Matsumoto - Playful Bodies: Movement and Materials
Start: 2025-09-14T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-09-14T13:00:00+01:00
Location: originalprojects;

Takeshi Matsumoto - Playful Bodies: Movement and Materials

We first met Takeshi when he was touring with his show Club Origami, we loved the show, the sensitivity and playfulness of his approach. We invited him to be part of our Early Years Incubate, a three-day professional development programme, where he shared his passion and expertise with a group of artists from different disciplines and backgrounds. We are delighted to be hosting Takeshi once more as part of Ripple Festival 2025.

Playful Bodies: Movement and Materials
What tools can be used to choreograph dance performances for early years groups?
How does material and materiality inform the body - and how can the body inspire playful interaction with materials to shape the creative process?
Informed by Laban Movement Analysis, improvisation, and early years practice, this workshop invites participants to explore the “ingredients” for creating dance performances for children and young audiences.
These insights have been gathered by Takeshi over two decades of working with and for neurotypical and neurodivergent children nationally and internationally.
Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement.

About Takeshi
Takeshi Matsumoto is a dance artist and founder of Seven.Circles. Growing up in Japan his practice, both in life and the performing arts, is influenced by Wa: harmony, peacefulness, quiet and contented ways of living and balancing with others and the environment. He is co-director of Ichi Ni San, which creates dance performances for children inspired by British and Japanese cultures, together with Makiko Aoyama and Robert Howat. They created Club Origami, commissioned and produced by Little Big Dance which has been touring to 16 countries. Alongside his choreographic work, Takeshi has been committed to work with/for stateless refugee children in Thailand to create dance films, tackling issues around social injustice and the rights of children since 2016.

Ripple Festival
This workshop is part of Ripple Early Years Arts Festival, presented by Magic Acorns. Ripple will bring together artists, educators, researchers, policy makers and arts organisations and funders for an Early Years Professional Symposium at St George’s Theatre on Saturday 13 September. This interdisciplinary gathering will explore extravagant ideas about art and people under three through discussions, presentations and practical experiences.