Hiroaki Umeda’s choreography and eye for digital design have been celebrated throughout Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S.
Critically acclaimed for his almost impossibly fluid movement style bordering on street dance – subtle, radical, and provocative – his dance pieces frequently synthesize ultramodern video, dramatic lighting and crackling soundscapes as interlocking components interacting with moving bodies on stage. Now, this slick avant-garde mastermind brings a double bill of his latest cutting-edge projects from Tokyo to Philadelphia.
Moving State 1, performed by four protege female dancers from Umeda’s Somatic Field Project who have fully absorbed his sleek, oiled movements and assimilating, Umeda’s signature solo performance, operate within a dance aesthetic where refined physicality merges with cyberart.
The U.S. five-city tour of Hiroaki Umeda: assimilating and Moving State 1 is produced and organized by Japan Society, with support from Arts Council Tokyo (Creation Grant) and The Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Presented in association with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia as part of the lead up to The 2026 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia.
“Engaging… Like a tin man with oil flowing freely through his veins…” — The New York Times
“Cool, minimalist, high-tech hip-hop…” — Infinite Body, Eva Yaa Asantewaa
PERFORMANCES
MARCH 14-15, 2026
Saturday, March 14 at 7pm
Sunday, March 15 at 2pm
PRICING
$50 Supporter
$35 GA Standard
$15 PWYC, Industry, Students, & 25-and-Under
$2 FringeACCESS
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VENUE
FringeArts
140 N Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia PA 19106
Creative Team
Choreographer / Video and Sound Designer: Hiroaki Umeda
Moving State 1
Somatic Field Project Dancers:
Takara Nakamura
Yuki Nakamura
Ikumi Otsuka
Yu Suzuki
assimilating
Dancer: Hiroaki Umeda
Photo Credits –
Image 1: assimilating c. S20
Images 2 and 3: Moving State 1 c. Sugawara Kota
SUPPORT
The U.S. five-city tour of Hiroaki Umeda: assimilating and Moving State 1 is produced and organized by Japan Society, with support from Arts Council Tokyo (Creation Grant) and The Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Partner Event
March 28–29, 2026
The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia is an annual spring celebration of Japanese arts and culture organized by Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP), with tremendous support from title sponsor Subaru of America, Inc.
Featuring a variety of events throughout the city, this yearly festival brings a taste of Japan to Philadelphia and highlights the beauty of Japanese sakura—the flowering cherry trees that brighten city streets and parks with their distinctive pink and white blossoms.