As part of Japan Society’s Fall 2017-Winter 2018 Performing Arts Season, the Society proudly presents the North American premiere of “Left-Right-Left,” directed and choreographed by Luca Veggetti. Commissioned by Japan Society and Yokohama Noh Theater, this work arrives as a featured event in the NOH-NOW Series coinciding with the Society’s 110th anniversary. “Left-Right-Left” plays two performances in New York: Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14 at 7:30pm. Known for his longtime devotion to noh theater and its significant influence on his work, Italian director and choreographer Luca Veggetti, in collaboration with esteemed noh musician Genjiro Okura, Grand Master of the Okura School of kotsuzumi small hand drums, recently nominated by the Japanese government for the title of Living National Treasure, who acts as this production’s music director, explores the point of intersection between Japan’s 600-year-old tradition and today’s efforts in dance in “Left-Right-Left.” This new work, a reflection of these artists’ deeply rooted sensibilities in both East and West, is performed by three leading Japanese dancers including internationally revered butoh dancer Akira Kasai, contemporary dancer Megumi Nakamura (former member of Nederlands Dans Theater) and butoh-trained dancer Yukio Suzuki, accompanied by live traditional noh percussive sounds by noh musicians Genjiro Okura (noh small hand drum) and Rokurobyoe Fujita (noh flute). A child noh actor Rinzo Nagayama recites passages from the traditional noh plays “Okina” and “Hagoromo” in English, newly translated by foremost Japanese literary and noh scholar, Professor Emeritus of Columbia University and recipient of the Order of Culture as awarded by the Japanese government, Dr. Donald Keene (text translation/project advisor).