Our Mission
Cultivating Artist & Community through Collaboration
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Meaningful interactions across generations
Welcome to
Creative Minds Collaborative
CMC is a non-profit organization, established by Nao Kusuzaki in order to cultivate cultural understanding in the diverse community we live in. We achieve this through creation and presentation of collaborative dance programs and educational community outreach and workshops for all ages.
Reflecting upon how we create awareness and empower the communities around us, we seek to bring to attention relevant issues through artistic expressions, provide artists the platform to perform, cultivating the next generation of dancers, and making space for the community to connect with one another.
Deeply rooted cultural stories express knowledge, worldviews, and traditions. They draw on observation, lived experience, and the unknown to create meaning, shared values, and a sense of belonging. We seek to continue retelling these stories into the next generations, reflecting on the interconnectedness of all living beings.
Upcoming Event
Conceived by former Houston Ballet soloist Nao Kusuzaki, TSURU — in Flight is an original contemporary chamber ballet inspired by the classic Japanese folktale Tsuru no Ongaeshi (The Crane Wife). With expressive contemporary choreography by Kenta Kojiri and evocative live instrumentation, the 2027 iteration highlights themes of human resilience, female empowerment, and enduring artistic spirit.
TSURU- in Flight is presented with support from Houston Ballet Foundation.
TSURU was commissioned by Asia Society Texas in 2015.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2027
2:00 PM & 6:30 PM
MATCHBOX 2
RUNTIME:
50 minutes with no intermission
Artist talkback
immediately following the 6:30 PM performance
TICKETS:
RESERVED SEATING
$50 Center Section
$40 Side Section
Please note that each ticket is subject to a $5 Box Office Support fee at checkout.
This performance is appropriate for audiences ages 5 and up.
CREATIVE TEAM & CAST
Nao Kusuzaki
Concept, Creatiion & Artistic Direction
Kenta Kojiri
Choreography
MUSICIANS
Yumi Kurosawa
Koto virtuoso & Composer
Joy Natsuru Yanai
Cellist
DANCERS
Curtesy of Houston Ballet
Rafaela Henrique
Song Teng
Saul Newport
Ryan Williams
DESIGN TEAM
Ryan McGettigan
Scenic
Tiffany Schrepferman
Lighting
Allison Miller
Costumes
Artists From Our Current Project
Hayden Stark
Dancer/Choreographer
Kaoru Watanabe
Composer/Musician
Jennifer Mabus
Dancer/Choreographer
Jacqui Sutton
Poet
Patrick Moore
Cellist
Nao Kusuzaki
Executive/Artistic Director
Shohei Iwahama
Dancer/Choreographer
Past Event
Meiji Dances
In Celebration of Meiji Modern
Fifty Years of New Japan Exhibition at MFAH
About MEIJI Dances
A Dance at the Meiji Modern”, is a new dance piece choreographed by Nao Kusuzaki, Artistic Director of Creative Minds Collaborative in honor of the exhibition – Meiji Modern- Fifty Years of New Japan. The new work explores themes of tradition versus modernity, cultural identity, and the human experience inspired by curated art works within the exhibition.
The movements intertwine traditional Japanese dance forms with contemporary vocabularies, reflecting the collision and integration of the Western influences. The soundscape blends Meiji-era Japanese composers like Rentaro Taki and Kosaku Yamada, with imported Western music by Saint-Saën, creating an atmosphere that mirrors the era’s cultural amalgamation.
Set in modern day Japan, this dance narrative mirrors the spirit of the era it seeks to portray, celebrating both the richness of Japan’s heritage and its embrace of global influences.
Event: Meiji Dances
Date: August 22, 2024
Place: Museum of Fine Arts
Brown Auditorium
1001 Bissonnet St
Houston TX 77005
Performance at at 7:00pm
Date: August 22, 2024
Place: Museum of Fine Arts
Brown Auditorium
1001 Bissonnet St
Houston TX 77005
Performance at at 7:00pm
Scan the QR Code Above for Program Notes for Meiji Dances