Shakti's Dance Performance Based on Kobo Abe's Classic 20th-Century Novel 'The Woman in the Dunes' to Be Staged at ROHM Theatre Kyoto on September 26

The dance performance 'The Woman in the Dunes' will be staged on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto North Hall (13 Okazaki Saisho-ji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture).

Tickets are currently on sale via Confetti (operated by Long Run Planning Co., Ltd., Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Daigo Kuriomatsu).

Tickets available now on Confetti

Official website

An endless flow of sand, dunes stretching into the depths of the unconscious—this is the stage.

Internationally renowned dancer Shakti's performance 'The Woman in the Dunes,' which explores themes of isolation, survival, love, and death through a surrealist lens, will be presented on Saturday, September 26, at ROHM Theatre Kyoto North Hall.

Tickets can be purchased through Confetti.

Based in Australia, dancer Shakti was born in Kyoto to an Indian father and a Japanese mother who is an Indian classical dancer. She captivates global audiences with her original dance style that fuses fiery passion with ethereal beauty. Described as a 'spirit of sensuality,' her presence has been hailed as a 'sparkling cocktail of the sacred and the profane' (Montreal Mirror). She has created and performed numerous original works reinterpreting classics such as 'The Book of the Dead,' 'The Pillow Book,' and 'Orpheus.'

Inspired by Kobo Abe’s novel depicting a man trapped in a sand pit and facing extreme psychological and physical conditions, 'The Woman in the Dunes' premiered in May 2000 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London. Since then, it has been performed at prestigious festivals including the Avignon Theatre Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Tel Aviv International Festival, Adelaide Fringe (2001 and 2013), Montreal Fringe Festival, Tokyo’s Aoyama Round Theatre, and Kyoto Prefectural Theatre.

In 2025, the performance was revived at the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and the Avignon Theatre Festival in France, receiving high praise: 'a visually stunning and emotionally overwhelming dance that leaves you speechless' (La Provence).

As the original novel has been translated into over 20 languages, the performance continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

The production is structured into the following sections: 'Dawn,' 'Existence: The Dance of Sisyphus,' 'Bondage: Fear,' 'Eros: Love in the Sand,' 'Magic: Incantation,' and 'Ecstasy: Ultimate Liberation.'

Original music is composed by Steven Severin, former member of Siouxsie and the Banshees, a prominent figure in the UK rock scene. The collaboration between Shakti and Severin stimulates the audience’s subconscious, transforming perceptions of eros and ecstasy.

Through its overwhelming physical language and music, the performance immerses the audience in themes of isolation, connection, and the fleeting nature of time, inviting them to gaze into the depths of their own inner selves.

Cast: Shakti Vasantamala Shakti Dance Company Fumiko Inamori, Kumiko Takayama, Fumiko Shimayama, Mayura Matsui, Reiko Sakai, Naoko Mochi

Lighting: Jörg Hacker

Performance Overview

'The Woman in the Dunes'

Performance Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Venue: ROHM Theatre Kyoto North Hall (13 Okazaki Saisho-ji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)

Performance Schedule

September 26, 2026 (Sat): 14:00 start

※ Doors open 30 minutes before showtime

Ticket Prices

General: ¥5,000

(Free seating, tax included)

Inquiries

[email protected]

Ticket site 'Confetti'

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