LUZ Japan Tour 2026 - FTN LUZ concert before Japan tour

At the end of October and the beginning of November, the dancers of the LUZ Modern Dance Formation will travel to Japan for their 6th artistic tour. The main goal of the trip is to promote Polish culture and strengthen long-term bonds of friendship between the two countries. However, before the dancers embark on a long journey, on October 16, 2026 in the hall “Podlasie” they will present to the audience of Siedlce a special artistic program prepared for the Japanese audience. It will be a unique opportunity to see this spectacular show even before the official tour.

The extensive program of the tour includes concerts in Japanese primary and secondary schools, combined with integration meetings and traditional lessons in calligraphy, origami, music and Japanese language. The dancers will also meet with the authorities of the host cities, including Hamamatsu and Gamagori. A special point of departure will be the participation of FTN LUZ in the jubilee concert on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Dance Station MASHU, which will be held on October 31 in Hamamatsu.

An extraordinary experience for young artists from Siedlce will be the opportunity to get to know the culture and everyday life of the Japanese from the inside — the dancers will live directly with Japanese families.

The project comes to fruition thanks to more than 25 years of cooperation between the Municipal Culture Centre in Siedlce, headed by director Mariusz Woszczyński, and FTN LUZ with the Polish-Japanese Society for Cultural and Scientific Exchange POLJA, represented by Mieko Kageyama and Prof. Ryszard Jabłoński.

As part of this long-standing initiative, LUZ dancers have already visited Japan five times, giving several dozen concerts in schools and performance halls, presenting Polish traditions, dances and songs. In turn, the choreographer and director of the ensemble, Joanna Woszczyńska, has repeatedly taught Japanese youth and adults Polish national dances. Each tour is preceded by months of intensive preparations — not only dance (contemporary dance, folk dance, singing), but also educational, including lectures on the history, culture and customs of the Land of the Blossoming Cherry.

It is worth recalling that in 2021, the LUZ Modern Dance Formation was officially recognized for its international cooperation by the Japanese association NIHON ZENGYO KAI (Japan Society for Goodwill). The team received a diploma and a certificate with thanks: “For your efforts and kindness in consolidating the friendship between Poland and Japan through cultural exchange activities with the inhabitants of Japan”.

The partnership between the IOC and POLJA Society is also a project of International Artistic and Cultural Meetings Poland-Japan implemented in Siedlce. Thanks to him, our city has hosted many Japanese ensembles and artists, including Kaiko 500, MASHU, Kihou and pianist Miho Tokuda.

A key element of the exchange remains the tradition of home hospitality — both in Poland and in Japan, dancers live with local families. Thanks to this, lasting, cordial relationships were born for two decades. Polish and Japanese families regularly keep in touch, exchange wishes, photos and gifts, creating an extraordinary Polish-Japanese friendship community across borders.

ℹ️ Concert of LUZ Modern Dance Formation before the tour of Japan entitled “LUZ Japan Tour 2026" -