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What Is War

Oct 21—Oct 25, 2025
Next Wave
What Is War
Created by Eiko Otake and Wen Hui
    Part of
  • Next Wave 2025
  • and
  • Fall 2025
Created and performed by Eiko Otake (of Eiko & Koma) and Wen Hui (of Living Dance Studio), What Is War is a powerful collaboration that fuses movement, video, and personal testimony excavated from the artists’ recollections of war and its aftermath. Otake grew up in post war Japan and Wen grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. Friends since 1995 and working closely since 2020, Otake and Wen explore the enduring impacts of war on human consciousness, collective memory, and the body.

Please note: What Is War contains nudity and addresses the subject of war.
Dramaturgy by Iris McCloughan
Lighting Design by David Ferri

ONSALE DATES

Thu, May 15 at 1pm
BAM Members & Patrons

Thu, May 22 at 1pm
General Public

UPCOMING Performances

      RUNNING TIME

      1 hour, no intermission

      VENUE

      BAM Fisher
      Fishman Space

      TICKET INFORMATION

      Tickets start at $35
      Please note: All online orders are subject to a $2 facility fee and $7.50 handling fee per ticket; all orders at the box office are subject to a $2 facility fee per ticket.

      BAM Members & Patrons receive 20% off tickets through June 30, 2025. No promo code needed.

      All performances will adhere to protocols developed in accordance with New York State regulations and in consultation with medical professionals for the safety of our artists, audiences, and staff.

      Leadership support for
      BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:

      Mellon Foundation

      Leadership support for
      BAM Access Programs provided by
      the Jerome L. Greene Foundation

      JL Greene

      Leadership support for
      BAM programming provided by:

      Howard Gilman

      Leadership support for
      dance at BAM provided by
      The SHS Foundation

      Leadership support for
      dance at BAM provided by:

      Harkness

      Leadership support for
      Next Wave 2025 provided by
      National Endowment for the Arts

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