Michio Ito Documentary

Michio Ito is an historical dancer and choreographer you may not know. The documentary sketches his journey from Japan to Europe to America, from success to obscurity and finally to re-discovery. It includes clips of LADF’s reconstructions of Ito’s choreography spanning 1916 to 1928. Ito is named to “America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” list. Purchase or stream on Amazon.



The film had its premiere in NYC at “Dance on Camera Festival” sponsored by Dance Films Association and Film Society of Lincoln Center. Tim Cowart's review can be

read here.

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The 2014 West Coast premiere was hosted by Dance Camera West and the filmed screened at MOCA.

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Cast Photo from Michio Ito Film

Director and Executive Producer - Bonnie Oda Homsey
Producer and Editor - John Flynn
Director of Photography - John Luker      Original Music Composed by Teiji Ito
Narrator - Greg Watanabe

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Featuring Interviews with

Michele Ito - granddaughter and Director of Michio Ito Foundation

Barbara Perry - actress and former Ito Company dancer

Mary Jean Cowell - Ito scholar and educator-choreographer

Nobuko Miyamoto - Artistic Director of Great Leap

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Michio Ito solos performed by

Nancy Colahan  •  Janet Eilber  •  Bonnie Oda Homsey  •  Risa Steinberg

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Partial funding for film provided by

Japanese American Community Services/Cecilia Nakamura Arts Fund.