The Tale Behind 'Genji': A Conversation With Dr. Melissa McCormick and Nao Kusuzaki | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Visit
    • Plan Your visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Java Lava Cafe
    • About the Building
    • Ticketing Policies
  • At Home
    • At Home
    • Webcasts
    • Spotlight Asiatown
    • Houston's Asian American Journeys
    • Visit from Home
    • Learn from Home
    • COVID-19 Series
    • Family Activities
    • Encore Series
    • Staff Picks
    • Around the World
    • 1,000 Cranes for Hope
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Family Events
    • Special Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibition
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Education
    • Family Programs
    • Student Programs
    • Teen Programs
    • Educator Programs
    • Japan Outreach Initiative
    • Adult Programs
    • Community Programs
    • Bold New Initiative
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Become a Member
    • Education Project
    • Special Events
    • Endowment
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partners
  • About
    • About Us
    • Unity in Diversity
    • Our People
    • Our Board
    • Our Supporters
    • Get Involved
    • Work With Us
    • Financial Statements
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • Press Releases
  • Space Rental
  • Shop
Texas
Search
Texas
  • Visit
    • Plan Your visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Java Lava Cafe
    • About the Building
    • Ticketing Policies
  • At Home
    • At Home
    • Webcasts
    • Spotlight Asiatown
    • Houston's Asian American Journeys
    • Visit from Home
    • Learn from Home
    • COVID-19 Series
    • Family Activities
    • Encore Series
    • Staff Picks
    • Around the World
    • 1,000 Cranes for Hope
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Family Events
    • Special Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibition
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Education
    • Family Programs
    • Student Programs
    • Teen Programs
    • Educator Programs
    • Japan Outreach Initiative
    • Adult Programs
    • Community Programs
    • Bold New Initiative
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Become a Member
    • Education Project
    • Special Events
    • Endowment
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partners
  • About
    • About Us
    • Unity in Diversity
    • Our People
    • Our Board
    • Our Supporters
    • Get Involved
    • Work With Us
    • Financial Statements
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • Press Releases
  • Space Rental
  • Shop

Breadcrumb

  • Texas
  • The Tale Behind 'Genji': A Conversation With Dr. Melissa McCormick and Nao Kusuzaki

The Tale Behind 'Genji': A Conversation With Dr. Melissa McCormick and Nao Kusuzaki

VIEW EVENT DETAILS  
'Genji' Rehearsal
Chris Dunn

Schedule

Thursday, March 23, 2023
7 p.m. Program


Join acclaimed Harvard scholar Dr. Melissa McCormick and artistic director Nao Kusuzaki for an insightful talk about the classic novel The Tale of Genji, prior to the world premiere of the ballet Genji at Asia Society Texas on March 24.  

Genji, a passionate and poetic new ballet by Nao Kusuzaki, is a contemporary retelling of the classic novel The Tale of Genji, about friendship, love, and the dynamics of power and social class in Heian period Japan. Dr. McCormick will provide an overview of The Tale of Genji and place it in the context of Japanese culture, global literature, and its influence on other art forms. Ms. Kusuzaki will discuss her artistic approach to creating Genji, the first ballet adaptation of this foundational masterpiece. The talk will include a question and answer period with the audience.

Genji was commissioned by Asia Society Texas.

Related Event

  • In-person
    Genji: A World Premiere_2022

    World Premiere: 'Genji'

    Friday 24 Mar 2023
    Join Asia Society Texas for the world premiere of 'Genji,' a contemporary retelling of the classic novel 'The Tale of Genji,' in a performance about friendship, love, and the dynamics of power and social class in Heian-period Japan.

About the Speakers

Dr. Melissa McCormick

Melissa McCormick, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Japanese Art and Culture at Harvard University, earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan (1990) and her Ph.D. from Princeton University (2000). She began her teaching career as the Atsumi Assistant Professor of Japanese Art at Columbia University in the Department of Art History and Archaeology and then moved to Harvard as Associate Professor in 2005. She was promoted to Professor with tenure in 2009.

Her research focuses on the relationship of art and literature, as well as forms of visual storytelling, and their integration with social and political history and Buddhist thought. McCormick’s work on the eleventh-century narrative The Tale of Genji has resulted in over a dozen publications in both English and Japanese. Her research was featured in two NHK televised specials (2008, 2019) and is the basis of her monograph, The Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion (Princeton University Press, 2018). In 2019 she co-curated and co-edited/authored the catalogue for the international loan exhibition The Tale of Genji: A Japanese Classic Illuminated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, named among the top five exhibitions that year by The Washington Post.

Nao Kusuzaki

Nao Kusuzaki was born in Ehime prefecture, Japan. After moving to the U.S. at age 10, she continued her training with The Washington School of Ballet and Boston Ballet School. Nao became a member of Corps de Ballet with Boston Ballet in 2001. In 2004 she joined Houston Ballet and was promoted to Soloist in 2009. She has danced numerous leading roles in both classical and contemporary repertoire. Some of her featured roles include: the Sugarplum Fairy and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Madame Butterfly in Madame Butterfly, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, Sinfonietta, and Falling Angels, William Forsythe’s In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush, and Mark Morris’s Pacific.

Nao is also active in the Houston community through producing Dance for Hope, a benefit Concert in response to Japan Earthquake of 2011, co-creating TSURU with Asia Society Texas in 2015, and directing and dancing the 45th Anniversary Ballet Performance celebrating Houston and Chiba Sister City Relations, which premiered in July 22, 2017. In November, 2017, she directed and danced in the revival of TSURU at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston where Nao was commended by the Consulate General, Japan. Nao is Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Creative Minds Collaborative Inc., a nonprofit organization which seeks to create meaning across artists, educators, and supporters of the arts utilizing dance as the main medium.


Presenting Sponsors of Genji

Stephanie and Frank Tsuru

Diamond Sponsors of Genji

Leigh and Reggie Smith

Gold Sponsors of Genji

Anne and Albert Chao
Ann Trammell

Silver Sponsors of Genji

Japan Foundation

Isla and T.R. Reckling III
Vivi Nguyen and Christopher Robertson

Bronze Sponsors of Genji

Nancy Haywood
Jean and Henry May
Duyen and Marc Nguyen
Milton D. Rosenau, Jr. & Dr. Ellen R. Gritz

Japan Series Sponsor

Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

Performing Arts and Culture programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Syamal and Susmita Poddar. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, and The Brown Foundation Inc. Generous funding also provided by AARP, The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, and the Wortham Foundation. Additional support provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas.

Performing Arts and Culture Presenting Sponsors

Syamal and Susmita Poddar


Performing Arts and Culture Program Sponsors

HAA Houston Arts Alliance
NEA National Endowment for the Arts
Texas Commission on the Arts

Presenting Partner

Houston Ballet

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.


Asia in Your Inbox

Enter your email address.

* indicates required
 
 

 

Upcoming at Asia Society Texas

'Biomedical Innovation Hub' 2023
In-person

Houston as a Biomedical Innovation Hub Connecting Texas to Asia and Beyond

06 Apr 2023
6 - 8 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas for a discussion on the importance of maintaining and building connections between Houston’s biomedical community and Asia, as well as the future of Houston as a long-term global hub of biomedical innovation.
RSVP
 Bollywod Film Nights: '3 Idiots' 2023
In-person

Bollywood Film Nights: '3 Idiots'

14 Apr 2023
8 - 10:50 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas for a screening of '3 Idiots' as part of our Bollywood Film Nights series!
Buy Tickets
Festival of Eid 2023
In-person

Festival of Eid 2023

29 Apr 2023
4 - 8 p.m.
Join us for a free festival to celebrate Eid al-Fitr through food, performances, artist demonstrations, activities, and games!
RSVP
An Evening of Eid Celebration with National Arab Orchestra
In-person

Turath: An Evening of Art, Culture, and Music With National Arab Orchestra

30 Apr 2023
4 - 9 p.m.
Join us and the National Arab Orchestra in celebrating Eid al-Fitr through an evening of literary and visual arts, highlighting the richness and beauty of the Arab world.
Buy Tickets
Celebrating Incredible India 2023
In-person

Celebrating Incredible India!

07 May 2023
4 - 6 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India's independence through fashion, dance, and food!
Buy Tickets
Eunbi Kim
In-person

Eunbi Kim: 'it feels like a dream'

11 May 2023
7:30 - 9 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas for 'it feels like a dream,' an immersive multimedia performance from pianist Eunbi Kim that explores family and identity.
Buy Tickets

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last

Event Details

In-person
Thu 23 Mar 2023
7 - 8 p.m.

1370 Southmore Blvd.
Houston, TX 77004

Click for directions
RSVP
Free; please RSVP for planning purposes
20230323T190000 20230323T200000 America/New_York Asia Society: The Tale Behind 'Genji': A Conversation With Dr. Melissa McCormick and Nao Kusuzaki

For event details visit https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/tale-behind-genji-conversation-dr-melissa-mccormick-and-nao-kusuzaki
1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, TX 77004
Join the Facebook Event »

Connect With Us!

Join us on social media and sign up for our e-newsletter so you're always up-to-date with our latest programming and content!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
LinkedIn | YouTube


Asia in Your Inbox

Enter your email address.

* indicates required
 
 

  • Upcoming Events
  • Virtual Events
  • Family Events
  • Special Events
  • Past Events
  • Event Recaps
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC