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.