Chisato Minamimura – Mark of A Woman

Chisato Minamimura tells tales of tattooing in women\’s history

Japanese performance artist and choreographer Chisato Minamimura makes her Brighton debut as part of Undisciplined Festival at Brighton Dome on 15 March with Mark of A Woman, her show telling the personal, historic and often untold stories of women and tattooing.

From the origins of the word \’tattoo\’, which means \’to mark\’, Mark of A Woman explores how body marking has been used throughout the ages: as storytelling, as the expression of identity, and more disturbingly, to catalogue or indicate possession. Ultimately, however, the show is a celebration of women\’s resilience and the creation of beauty from trauma.

Using expressive movement to bring each chapter of the story to life, Chisato applies her experience as a Deaf artist and BSL art guide, blending Visual Vernacular (the choreographed and poetic form of sign language) with digital animation and projections. Adding to the sensory experience, Woojer™ technology offers audience members the opportunity to literally \’feel\’ the performance via vibrating Woojer Straps that are free to book with tickets for the show.

Mark of A Woman was Commissioned by The Place and BAC, supported using public funds from Arts Council England, and received its world premiere at The Place in 2023. The piece is supported by Pavilion Dance South West, Wellcome Collection and Auckland Arts Festival. Mark of A Woman is an Unlimited UK Partner Award 2023 commission with Southbank Centre, made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.

The performance of Mark of A Woman lasts around 50 minutes and is performed without an interval. The show is suitable for people of 14+. Given the role of tattooing in the historic subjugation of women, the piece contains some content which audiences may find challenging, including references to colonialism, abduction, sexual assault and mild torture. It also references cancer treatment and mastectomy surgery.

About Chisato Minamimura
Chisato Minamimura is a Deaf performance artist, choreographer and BSL art guide. Born in Japan, now based in London, Chisato has created, performed and taught internationally and is currently a Work Place artist at The Place. Chisato trained at Trinity Laban in London and holds a BA in Japanese-style painting from JOSHIBI University and MA in Performance and Health from YOKOHAMA national University. Chisato approaches choreography and performance making from her unique perspective as a Deaf artist, experimenting with and exploring the visualisation of sound and music. By using dance and technology, Chisato aims to share her experiences of sensory perception and human encounters. www.chisatominamimura.com

About South East Dance and Undisciplined
South East Dance is an arts charity that works with dance professionals and people across the region to make the South East a thriving home for dance. Undisciplined is a festival of dance with a sharp edge, taking place from Friday 7 to Thursday 20 March 2025. Featuring performances at The Dance Space, ACCA and Brighton Dome, Undisciplined includes the chance to experience special sharings and exclusive previews of new work by artists that will challenge how you think about dance. www.southeastdance.org.uk