inkBoat researches the interplay of multiple artistic disciplines and viewpoints, drawing primarily from the Japanese performing and martial arts, improvisational arts, and Daoist internal arts. inkBoat stage works border dance, performance art and theater, and inhabit theaters, museums, streets and abandoned spaces.
Founded by Shinichi Iova-Koga in 1998, members are based in San Francisco, Luzern, New York, Paris and Berlin, performing throughout North America, Europe, South Korea and Japan.
inkBoat creates performance works for the public through a collaborative artistic process. We support professional growth of students and performers in San Francisco and abroad through mentorship, classes and workshops for professionals and beginners.
inkBoat has been awarded 6 Isadora Duncan Awards (Izzies): 2021’s “These are the Ones We Fell Among,” with guest director/creator Ann Carlson, received Outstanding Achievement in Company Performance; 2015’s “95 Rituals” received a Special Award; 2011’s “Line Between” received Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design; 2008’s “c(H)ord” received Outstanding Achievement in Company Performance; 2004’s “Ame to Ame”received Outstanding Achievement in Company Performance; and 2003’s “Heavens’ Radio” received Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design.
inkBoat has been presented by numerous venues, including Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF), ODC Theater (SF), CounterPulse (SF), Seattle International Arts Festival, San Francisco International Arts Festival, Südpol (Switzerland), Seoul International Dance Festival (Korea), Japan Society (NY), Red Cat (LA), Vancouver Dance Festival (Canada), Dock 11 (Berlin), Fabrik Potsdam (Germany), Schloss Bröllin (Germany), Kunsthaus Graz (Austria), Southern Theater (MN), University of California (Riverside), Highways (Santa Monica), Painted Bride (Philadelphia), Divadlo Disc (Prague), Plan B (Tokyo) and Die Pratze (Tokyo).
Our work is supported by grants from leading national and regional funders, including Rainin Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s MAP fund, Creative Work Fund, California Arts Council, San Francisco Arts Commission, Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, Sam Mazza Foundation, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Zellerbach Foundation and others.
inkBoat ist eine physische Theatergruppe und Tanzkompagnie, die 1998 von Shinichi Iova-Koga gegründet wurde. Mit Mitgliedern in San Francisco, New York, Luzern, Paris und Berlin tritt das Ensemble in Nordamerika, Europa, Südkorea und Japan in Theatern und Off-Spaces auf. Das Repertoire integriert unterschiedliche künstlerische Disziplinen und Perspektiven, woraus eigenständige Performances resultieren. Themen und Inhalte entstehen durch die akribische Auseinandersetzung mit dem Alltag. Der primäre Fokus liegt auf dem Körper – dieser drückt sich sowohl durch kleine, spezifische wie auch harte, rohe Bewegungen aus.