Japan Arts Matsuri 2011 presents amateur night, guest stars, charity showcase

For every Japanese artist and entertainer in New York with a dream to make it big, the ninth annual Japan Art Matsuri (JAM) is the place for their star to shine. Held this year from Nov. 4-6 at the Theater for the New City in Manhattan’s East Village, this year JAM 2011 offers its biggest and most diverse lineup to date.

Hosted by Yoshi Amao and Saori Goda and presented by JaNet in association with Faune Dance Troupe, JAM 2011 has established itself as one of America’s largest Japanese art and music festivals, presenting Japan and its unique culture with performances by Japanese artists, musicians and entertainers in a true matsuri (festival)-style atmosphere, and to enhance friendship and communication among New York City’s cultural communities.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event that features, in addition to live entertainment, a variety of street stall-style shops in the theater lobby that sell everything from Japanese food and drinks to artworks and traditional goods. There will also be charity booths to help those in Japan devastated by the 3/11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster.

To aid the victims, Friday features special charity performances by Dancing for Japan. Entitled “Stepping Forward!”, this specially formed dance troupe consists of members of New York’s top dance companies. Participating troupes include the Martha Graham Dance Company, Jennifer Miller/The Works, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Jose Limon Company, and others. All revenues from the “Dance for Japan” performances as well as the silent auction, raffles and dance company original goods will be donated towards assisting earthquake victims under the Brick Wall Project. 

An Apollo Theater-style Amateur Talent Night is this Saturday and Sunday’s centerpiece, offering 21 performers the chance to win special prizes based on audience applause. Among this year’s dance and music performers are Yosakoi Dance Project / 10tecomai, Satomi'N Friends, and Chiyong x Etsuko.

Also on Saturday are special performances by guest artists, including powerful Japanese drum performance troupes Taiko Masala and COBU; award-winning seven fingered pianist Gohei Nishikawa and classical sensation Taka Kigawa; and Don’t Give Up, a 2011 Grammy Award-nominated gospel choir produced by Danny Eason and Yoko Uchiki, the producer for Gospel Now 2001.

New Yorkers wishing to get their matsuri on for three days are cordially invited to enjoy the festivities of JAM 2011.

Japan Arts Matsuri 2011 runs Nov. 4-6 from 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 14 from 3:00 p.m. at the Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. (between Ninth and Tenth Streets.) Advance tickets are $30 for Friday’s “Stepping Forward” (7:00 p.m.), $20 for Saturday and Sunday’s Talent Night and special performances by guest artists (3:00 p.m. Saturday; 2:00 p.m. Sunday), and $5 for talent night only. For more information, visit http://japanesenetwork.org/en/amnet-jam.

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