Hallowbaloo

If you have a hard time figuring how to pronounce this dance collective’s name, that’s an indication of how delightfully difficult it is to classify Giinko Marishino. With a base in butoh and modern dance, Giinko incorporates influences from other performance genres such as drag, comedy, installation, music, and video in its wildly varying events.

Founded in the 1990s, Honolulu celebrity drag persona Sami Akuna (Cocoa Chandelier), along with co-founders Summer Partlon and Malia Oliver, decided to forge a space for vanguard dance. Finding home in the underground club scene, they began renegade performances around town in various venues from night clubs to art galleries to the theatrical stage. Cocoa’s House of Chandelier drag shows had already gained quite a reputation when joined by the modern dancers of Iona. Out of this phenomena of blending drag with formal modern dance, Giinko Marischino was born. Giinko is decidedly collaborative in structure, with a fluid hierarchy of individuals working at varying degrees of self-responsibility and commitment to the performance projects. The troupe specializes in the collaborative as a method of participatory art-making. The concept of ‘ohana (family) and social inclusion is the process by which the group works, and respect for and recognition of the individual within the group is the foundation for the ongoing success of this dance collective.

The end result of Giiko’s particular process is performed, and at times unknown until the moment has arrived — in which it is seen and then is no more. One performance of Giinko Marischino is a once-in-a-lifetime occurence, and will never be seen again. Experience your moment with Giinko and be part of the vanguard.