THE NISEI PROJECT
Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn
PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS
Nisei, BY CATE CAMMARATA, NYTHEATERNOW.COM - AUGUST 15, 2014
"What I love most about the New York International Fringe Festival is how it uncovers those hidden artistic jewels in our city that deserve our recognition and support. The Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn is one such jewel. Their production of Nisei is storytelling at its best."
Nisei, BY JASON ROST, THEATRE IS EASY (theasy.com) - AUGUST 18, 2014
"A heartfelt 2001 ballet from a Brooklyn ballet company finds its way into the Fringe spotlight. The Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn is showcasing a strong sense of community at this year's NYC Fringe Festival. The 2001 ballet, Nisei, is about the vitality of a community of Japanese Americans overcoming the bigotry against them during WWII. It has been re-imagined for the company's repertoire and this year's Fringe."
Nisei at FringeNYC, BY DAN BACALZO - AUGUST 11, 2014
"Their stories are still fairly unknown to the general public, which gives performances like Nisei an added value for the way they uncover a largely forgotten history." READ COMPLETE REVIEW
Nisei; The Unsung Heroes of WWII, BY MARK SAVITT, HI! DRAMA - AUGUST 10, 2014
"You will surely need a few hankies to deal with the overwhelming emotion unleashed by the patriotism, power, and grandeur of this piece, much like that evoked by John Ford's historical films." READ COMPLETE REVIEW
Telling the Japanese American WWII Experience Through Ballet, BY SUSAN MIYAGI HAMAKER – AUGUST 8, 2014
"You must see it for the choreography, the live band with koto and shakuhachi featuring songs by Hawaiian ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro, and the powerful beauty of the dancers. But most important, you must see it for the story, as it represents the determination and perseverance of the Nisei." READ COMPLETE REVIEW
Nisei Ballet at NY International Fringe Festival, FREEFORM REVIEW, DANCE-ENTHUSIAST.COM - AUGUST 7, 2014
"This is a piece of American history that is not known by most Americans and rarely talked about by those who do, because it's considered as an embarrassment. I feel that the Nisei ballet should be promoted as a must see among the FringeNYC programs and TV and news media should use this occasion to tell the stories about the Japanese-American soldiers who fought for Americaduring WWII." READ COMPLETE REVIEW
The Ballet Nisei as Part of Fringe NYC, BY SUSAN MIYAGI HAMAKER - AUGUST 5, 2014
"Nisei is part of the New York International Fringe Festival, with the designated theme “FLY in the Face of Danger,” a category that focuses on the moments that have shaped human history and how society has developed as a result."
Ten Must See Shows at the New York International Fringe Festival, NATALIE SACKS, CHARGED.FM - AUGUST 5, 2014
"The Fringe Festival isn't all about theater. This contemporary/ballet dance performance by Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn tells the story of the 100th Infantry Battalion, Separate, the segregated American military unit of Japanese American men fighting in WWII."
The Nisei Project, BY NANCY MATSUMOTO, DISCOVER NIKKEI - JULY 3, 2014
"The stories of the valiant all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Infantry Regiment of World War II have been told in art forms ranging from haiku to the graphic novel. But choreographer Marla Hirokawa may well be the first person to bring the tale of discrimination, imprisonment, and battlefield glory to life in the form of a ballet." READ COMPLETE PREVIEW
