STOMP Veteran And COBU Founder Yako Miyamoto Presents EN At Johnson Theater 9/17-20

Theater for the New City proudly presents the World Premiere of EN, a thrilling percussion and dance show created and choreographed by STOMP nine-year veteran Yako Miyamoto. EN runs from September 17 - 20, 2009 in a limited engagement at Theater for the New City's Johnson Theater, located at 155 First Avenue between 9 & 10 Streets in NYC.

Performances take place on Thursday, September 17 at 8pm, Friday, September 18 at 3pm & 8pm, Saturday, September 19 at 3pm & 8pm, and Sunday, September 20 at 3pm & 7pm. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at http://www.TheaterMania.com or by calling 212-352-3101. Tickets are $40 for the final performance on Sunday, September 20 at 7pm. The running time is 80 minutes. For more information on COBU visit http://www.COBU.us.

EN, meaning "perfect combustion" in Japanese, is a unique bi-cultural theatrical show that fuses traditional Japanese taiko drumming, American funk tap dancing and martial arts. The young, hip and fierce all female Japanese ensemble goes by the name COBU, translated as ‘Dance Like Drumming, Drum Like Dancing'. EN is a visual and musical thrill for audiences of all ages featuring diverse instruments such as Japanese taiko drums, African djembe drums, samisens (Japanese banjos), shime-daikos (small Japanese drums) and narukos (hand-held wooden clappers). No knowledge of Japanese or English is necessary to enjoy the show!

The cast is lead by the show's creator/choreographer and founder of COBU, Yako Miyamoto, who began her taiko drum studies in Tokyo at the age of eight. She currently stars in the hit Off-Broadway show, STOMP, as well as being a lead performer in the Peggy Spina Tap Company. Miyamoto is also a choreographer for the international show Fire Dance.

COBU, based in New York City, was created as a live rhythm performing arts group in 2000. COBU's motto, ‘Dance Like Drumming, Drum Like Dancing', is inspired by the combined sounds of New York and traditional Japanese culture. COBU combines elements of traditional Japanese taiko drumming along with rhythmic tap dancing. Their signature style and sound juxtaposes the traditional with the modern, making them one of the most unique and original groups around. COBU have performed throughout the United States, Japan, Europe and all across Asia. Earlier this year they performed in Washington DC at a Cherry Blossom Festival event attended by President Obama and the first lady. In June of this year they won the 2009 ‘Kollaboration New York' First Prize at NYU's Skirball Center. COBU will be performing September 5 - 7 at Bumbershoot 2009, Seattle's Music & Arts Festival. (http://www.bumbershoot.org)

The COBU ensemble consists of Yako Miyamoto, Micro Fukuyama, Nozomi Gunji, Haruna Hisada, Hana Ogata and Yuki Yamamori. The design team includes Yako Miyamoto (Original Music), Yukinobu Okazaki (Set Design) and Ayumu "Poe" Saegusa (Lighting Design).

Sign language will be provided during one song. Trains: L to 1st Ave., R, W to 8th St. or 6 to Astor Place.