World Premiere: 'Genji' | 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
  • World Premiere: 'Genji'

World Premiere: 'Genji'

VIEW EVENT DETAILS  

Presented in partnership with the Houston Ballet

Genji: A World Premiere_2022

Schedule

Asia Society Texas members enjoy discounted tickets for this program, as well as many other benefits!

Join or Renew Online

 

Already a member? Log in to access members-only pricing!

Log In Now

Friday, March 24, 2023
7:30 p.m. Performance
Reception to Follow

Saturday, March 25, 2023
7:30 p.m. Performance


Genji, the 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. Featuring dancers from the Houston Ballet, sumptuous production design, and original music composed and played live by acclaimed musician Kaoru Watanabe, this is a not-to-be-missed world premiere event.

Genji was commissioned by Asia Society Texas. 

Creative Team

Cast
Ryoto Kato (Genji)
Jindallae Bernard (Rokujyo)
Emma Forrester (Aoi)
Aoi Fujiwara (Fujitsubo)
Yumiko Fukuda (Murasaki)

Choreographer and Artistic Director
Nao Kusuzaki 

Composer and Musician
Kaoru Watanabe

Set Designer
Ryan McGettigen 

Costume Designer
Allison Miller

Lighting Designer and Stage Manager
Tiffany Schrepferman 


About the Artists

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.

Kaoru Watanabe

Composer and musician Kaoru Watanabe grounds his performance in traditional Japanese music while inhabiting a startling combination of musical worlds. He is renowned for his ability to collaborate with a diverse array of visionary international artists: Jason Moran, Yo-Yo Ma and Silkroad, Spanish flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena, visual artists Simone Leigh and Alyson Shotz, calligrapher Koji Kakinuma, Japanese National Living Treasure Bando Tamasaburo, vocalists Alicia Hall Moran and Imani Uzuri, tap dancers Tamango and Kazunori Kumagai, Galician bagpiper Carlos Nuñez, So Percussion, Semba Kiyohiko, Reigakusha, Brooklyn Raga Massive, Adam Rudolph and Go:Organic Orchestra, the Aizuri and Parker String Quartets, and pipa virtuoso Wu Man. In 2018, Watanabe debuted as an orchestral soloist and composer with the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House. He is an advisor, composer, and featured musician on the Oscar-nominated score of Wes Anderson’s film Isle of Dogs and was a guest artist on the Silkroad's Grammy Award-winning album Sing Me Home.


Presenting Sponsors of Genji

Stephanie and Frank Tsuru

Diamond Sponsors of Genji

Leigh and Reggie Smith

Gold Sponsors of Genji

Anne and Albert Chao

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

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

'Blurring the Color Line' 2022
In-person

Film Screening: ‘Blurring the Color Line’

31 Jan 2023
6:30 - 8:45 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas for a screening of ‘Blurring the Color Line,' a documentary that explores the experience of Asian Americans in the Jim Crow Era South, plus a live discussion with director Crystal Kwok.
Buy Tickets
Women’s Leadership Series:  Asian American Women in Law
In-person

Bank of America Women’s Leadership Series

02 Feb 2023
6 - 8:15 p.m.
As part of the Bank of America Women's Leadership Series, join Asia Society Texas for a discussion of professional development, exploration of shared identities, and personal stories of Asian American women in the legal profession.
Buy Tickets
Kinetic in Concert - Jeff Grass
In-person

Kinetic in Concert: 'Musical Inspirations and Identity in France and Korea'

03 Feb 2023
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Join Asia Society Texas for a night of thought-provoking chamber music concert exploring the intersection of Korean and French musical identity with Kinetic in Concert: 'Musical Inspirations and Identity in France and Korea'.
Buy Tickets
Hui-Kuan Lin and Lung-Yi Huang
In-person

'Performing Asia': Traditional and Contemporary Music From China and Taiwan

07 Feb 2023
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Enjoy a night of lively and moving cross-cultural collaboration among composers Shih-Hui Chen, Chen Yi, Huang-Long Pan, and Xu Shuya and featuring Taiwanese musicians Hui-Kuan Lin and Lung-Yi Huang.
Buy Tickets
Sun Xun, ‘The Time Vivarium-16,’ 2014, Acrylic and ink on paper mounted to aluminum, Pizzuti Collection
In-person

Opening Reception for 'Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions'

10 Feb 2023
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Celebrate the opening of new exhibition 'Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions' with a free reception and conversation with five of the featured artists at Asia Society Texas.
RSVP
Apollo and Vanessa Vo, Phoenix Ascending May 2018,
In-person

'Mekong: SOUL'

17 Feb 2023
7 - 8:30 p.m.
See the exclusive, in-progress Houston premiere of 'Mekong: SOUL,' a multi-disciplinary performance piece by Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ that tells powerful and multi-sensory stories about life on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
Buy Tickets

Pagination

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

Event Details

In-person
Fri 24 Mar 2023 - Sat 25 Mar 2023
7:30 - 9 p.m.

1370 Southmore Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77004

Click for directions
Buy Tickets
Friday (Performance and Reception): $55; Saturday (Performance Only): $45
20230324T193000 20230325T210000 America/New_York Asia Society: World Premiere: 'Genji'

For event details visit https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/world-premiere-genji
1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, Texas 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 Young Leaders
  • 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