Choreography

As a choreographer, Kanon has presented work at the We Belong Here: AAPI Festival, split bill performances at Arts On Site and the Triskelion Theater, and self-curated shows at the Puffin Room Art Gallery and the Triskelion Theater. Her works mainly focus on the uplifting of marginalized voices and the celebration of minority groups. Especially as a woman of color, Kanon is looking forward to continuing to work with diverse communities of artists who share similar experiences and cultures.

A red line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.
A red line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Motherless Tongue

A yellow line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at the Triskelion Theater as a part of their Spring 2025 season on April 24th, 2025.

Choreography: Kanon Sugino, in collaboration with the performers 

Performers: Allison Fan, Ciana Jao, and Kimie Parker

Lighting Design: Anna Wotring

Music Credits: “Mic Check” and “Drop” - Cornelius; “Dungaw” - Adie; “bouquet” - Ichiko Aoba; “成千上万的风” - Zuho; “Elégie from Morceaux de fantaisie: Op.3” - Composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Performed by Kyung-Jun Lee and Junhee Kim

Promotional Photography: Alicia Steeves

Two women engaged in a physical confrontation against a gray wall, with one women appearing aggressive and the other defensive.
A woman in an orange shirt is holding hands with a person in a white shirt, with her eyes closed.
Two women lifting a woman with black hair in a beige shirt in front of a gray metal wall.

Mirage no Wana

This work is performed by an all Japanese cast, exploring the Japanese culture, heritage, language, societal norms, body image, and mental health, portraying the multidimensionality of the culture and its people. Amidst the richness and beauty of Japan is a concealed toxic and self-deprecating culture.

A yellow line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at the Triskelion Theater on December 15th, 2024.

Choreography: Kanon Sugino, in collaboration with performers

Performers: Manatsu Aminaga, Mayu Nakaya, Kira Shiina, Kanon Sugino, Mamiko Usuda

Lighting Design: Anna Wotring 

Music Credits: “Marginalia #48” - Masakatsu Takagi, “Walking Shibuya Crossing at Night, Binaural City Sounds in Tokyo” - Nomadic Ambience, “Fool’s Eulogy” - Hiroko Murakami, “Earthquake Sound Effects” - Real Sound Hub, “The Sheltering Sky” - Ryuichi Sakamoto

Wadaiko Performer: Fumi Tanakadate

Costume Design: wuhao newyork TENUGUI ART, Kanon Sugino

An Externalization of Minor Feelings

“Minor feelings: the racialized range of emotions that are negative, dysphoric, and therefore untelegenic, built from the sediments of everyday racial experience and the irritant of having one’s perception of reality constantly questioned or dismissed.”

– Cathy Park Hong, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning

A red line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at SUNY Purchase Dance Theater Lab on February 24th, 2023.

Choreography: Kanon Sugino, in collaboration with the performers

Performers: Jasmine Alisca, Avian Jo-Chen Chang, Zil Inami, Ciana Jao, Kaliana Medlock, Jaedyn Richards, Olivia Wang

Lighting Design: Isaac Castillo

Music Credits: "The Last Rose of Summer" - Kathryn Stott, Yo-Yo Ma; "Zoku" - Kodo

Music Mixing and Editing: Cameron Surh

Costume Design: Kanon Sugino, Gail Baldoni

Videography and Photography: Isabella Pagano

A person crouching on the ground with their head tilted back, appears to be shouting or expressing intense emotion, illuminated by dark blue lighting.
A person performing on stage, balancing on one leg with the other extended in the air, illuminated by orange stage lighting.
Group of dancers in red tops and beige pants performing on stage with red lighting and shadow cast behind them.

4’9

Two petite women of color discuss the unacknowledged struggles of being short.

A red line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at Arts On Site on November 30th, 2023.

Choreography: Kanon Sugino, in collaboration with Libiya Gray

Performers: Libiya Gray, Kanon Sugino

Music: “Don’t Cry” - J Dilla; “When I Remember This Life” - Joe Hisaishi; “Romance for Cello and Piano” - Frederick Delius, Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott

Lighting Design: Bhagavan Angulo

Stifled Voice

This work portrays the experiences of disadvantaged groups who have felt suffocated in their inability to speak up for themselves. The reclaiming of these voices will come from the unification of those with similar experiences and backgrounds, who are willing to fight alongside others.

A yellow line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at SUNY Purchase Dance Theater Lab on May 4th, 2022.

Choreography: Kanon Sugino

Performers: Cassandra D'Agostino, Libiya Gray, Stephen Haley, Sydney Runions, Maia Surat Jones

Music Credits: “A Day In A Pub” - Masaru Yokoyama

Videography: Isabella Pagano

Tegami

This work is almost entirely improvised, performed by a cast of four Japanese dancers who have varying experiences living in New York. Movement is based on letters the performers wrote to their past and future selves.

A yellow line drawing of a cherry blossom flower branch with leaves, blossoms, and buds.

Premiered at the Puffin Room Art Gallery on February 9th, 2024

Performers: Manatsu Aminaga, Fuka Kojima, Erimo Okada, and Kanon Sugino

Facilitation: Kanon Sugino

Music Credits: Cover of “Kaze no Touri michi”, “Kuon” - Tokisekoutougakkousoukyokubu, “Sanya (Banboo Fluite)” - Japan Traditional Music Group

Props provided by Tenugui Art and Aco Moving, Gallery space provided by Carl Rosenstein