Jennifer Aoki

Echoes of Silence is at once a contemporary dance performance, historical record, and moving meditation. Shot at Vancouver's historic Japanese Language School, and featuring original music by traditionally based Japanese drumming group Onibana Taiko, this short film reflects on intergenerational trauma caused by Japanese internment and dispossession during the second world war.

Creative Team

Concept, Direction | Jennifer Aoki 

Choreography, Performance | Jennifer Aoki

Jennifer Aoki (she/her) is a Japanese-Canadian performer, dancer and choreographer based in Vancouver, BC. She completed her formative dance studies through Simon Fraser University, receiving a BFA in Dance in 2010. She also studied Contact Improvisation on a scholarship at EDAM in 2011.

As a dancer Jennifer has worked with independent choreographers and dance companies such as Tomoyo Yamada, Jenn Edwards, Meredith Kalaman, Machinoisey, and Body Narratives Collective. She performed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and was lead dancer in Seasons: A Magical Musical. Her own choreographic work has been presented all across Canada as well as Seattle, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Presentation highlights include Dancing on the Edge, Nah Drahn, 12 Minutes Max, Vines Arts Festival and Fringe Festivals across Canada. 

Jennifer’s current projects focus on Japanese-Canadian internment in the 1940’s, blending historical materials, personal reflection and movement research to create work that physicalizes intergenerational trauma.

Videographer, Creative Edit | Gemma Crowe

Original Music, Performance | Onibana Taiko 

Dramaturgy | Tomoyo Yomada 

Project Mentor | Jill Henis 

Photographer | Andi McLeish