Wakashu - Timeless Beauty of the Third Gender

This November 12 and 13, I am thrilled to share with the world my vision of gender freedom that was inspired years ago by New York Japan Society’s exhibit “Wakashu: Beautiful Youths in Edo-Period Prints and Paintings.” A concept was planted in my mind by that art and it has slowly but surely been growing.

Earlier this summer my Wakashu-Timeless Beauty of the Third Gender performance was finally taking shape conceptually. A grant from the Queens Council on the Arts helped it to bloom with support for hiring dancers and collaborators. I am so fortunate that John and Javier my long-time friends and collaborators from the House of Ninja agreed to join me - which had been my dream for the project all along.

Our “Wakashu’ is a mashup and an exchange. In the west, since the 1980s, Queer and creative young people, have been obsessed with Japanese culture at the same time that in my world, my Japanese peers who lived outside the norm were fascinated with American culture. In Wakashu, we are bridging those worlds while creating something new.

The music will be old Japanese melodies played on shakuhachi, koto, and shamisen overlaid over house beats. The choreography will blend dance from Kabuki to Vogueing. The costumes will combine elements of Glam, Club, and Street fashions, with Edo-era Japan.

I want this piece to bridge the communities I identify with - Japanese, People of Color, LGBTQ and open-minded humans – and to celebrate our common passions together. We are only one month away from the performance and I need your help to make it to the home stretch.

I need to guarantee our ticket revenue covers our rental with a full house of advance seats. And I need additional support to present this piece to you without artistic compromise. Our goal is just $2500 in advance tickets and donations by November.

Please join me!

Your generosity at any level is deeply appreciated. We are pleased to offer the following premiums as our thank you:

$25 – Link to the Online Stream of our Live Performances

$35 – 1 Advance Ticket to Either Performance

$45 – 1 Advance Ticket to Opening Night & Invitation to Catered Reception

$70 – 2 Advance Tickets to Either Performance

$90 – 2 Advance Tickets to Opening Night & Reception

$100 – Private Online Dance Lesson from Akiko and Performance/Reception

$125 – Private Online Dance Lesson from Akiko and Performance/Reception for 2

$140 - Gyrotonic <tm> Fitness Session Coached by Akiko and Performance/Reception

$165 - Gyrotonic <tm> Fitness Session and Performance/Reception for 2

$200 and up - Hero Level - Akiko will work with you to put together a customized package.