BNP Paribas supports the Dance Archive Project in Tokyo, a new performing arts archive project using the latest digital technology

The Dance Archive Network is a Japanese association that works to promote and revitalise the archives of Kazuo Ohno, founder of the Butoh dance. As such, it is committed to passing on the Butoh dance culture, spreading it around the world and keeping it alive. Since 2014, the Dance Archive Network has hosted the Dance Archive Project, an event combining archival sharing and dance performances. The “Yoshito Ohno Archives / Digital 3D in Motion” was born in 2016 as part of this endeavour. The purpose of this programme is to record the movements of the dancers using motion sensor technology and share them through artistic and educational videos. The recordings were made in 2016 and 2017 and the Dance Archive Network is now working on the screenplay.

To this end, they are organising a demonstration to be held from 15 to 23 December 2017 at the Terrada Warehouse Gallery that will mix Butoh performances, an exhibition of photographs taken by William Klein in Tokyo at the beginning of the Butoh and virtual- and augmented-reality installations.

The BNP Paribas Foundation and BNP Paribas Japan are co-supporting the Dance Archive Project, and in particular the exploration of digital technologies to share and promote Butoh’s archive through the support of this third technological instalment.

This support is part of BNP Paribas Foundation’s ambition to accelerate the development of international philanthropic programs in the dance sector. These programs aim to support creation in contemporary dance, experimentations which combine dance and innovation, and celebrate dance as a way to connect people and share positive experiences.

Over the past 30 years BNP Paribas has accompanied more than 80 artists across the world. BNP Paribas has been supporting world-leading performing Japanese artists such as Mr. Saburo Teshigawara (from 2004 to 2006) and Ms. Kaori Ito (from 2014 to present). In support of the arts in Japan, BNP Paribas in 2015 collaborated with the Ohara Museum of Art and the Tokyo University of the Arts to restore an oil-on-canvas masterpiece “Before the Ball” by Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita. The Dance Archive Project is the first project to be locally supported in Japan.

About the BNP Paribas Foundation

Under the oversight of the Foundation of France, the BNP Paribas Foundation has been a major player in corporate philanthropy for 30 years. It is also encouraging and contributing to the BNP Paribas’ philanthropic policy growth in all parts of the world wherever the Bank operates. The BNP Paribas Foundation’s activities are aimed at multidisciplinary philanthropy, supporting innovative projects dedicated to culture, social inclusion and the environment. It pays close attention to the quality of its commitment to its partners through a long-term commitment. Since 1984, over 300 cultural projects, 40 research programs and a thousand social and educational initiatives have earned its support in France and around the world.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 74 countries, with more than 192,000 employees, including more than 146,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance.

In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the European leader in consumer lending.

BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail-banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.