You’ve been part of Adelaide Fringe for years. What keeps you coming back, and what’s changed (for you and for Fringe) over that time?

I've been part of Adelaide Fringe since 1996. The Fringe was much smaller then. What I find wonderful is that the Adelaide local people love the Fringe and put themselves into it. It is both a local and an international festival. The city comes alive and you see many familiar faces every year. I always greet the audience as they walk out so it makes me happy to see the same faces every year.

And I met my husband at the Adelaide Fringe in 2000. He came to my show. So that is what brought me to Adelaide from Japan. And I have been here since.

For anyone who hasn’t seen you perform before: how would you describe what you do on stage in a way that’s true to you (not a genre label)?

I am a natural performer and what I do is unique and is not easy to put into a category. The roots are based on Eastern Philosophy and yoga but presented in a creative way. I believe in giving it all once you are up there and not worrying about what people may think. If I ever had to worry about that I wouldn't have even started. My dance is powerful and as I grow older I am less inhibited and more free. My dance is pure expression and energy with strong technique which comes from 65 years of training. I dance often in the nude. The human body is natural and pure.

What are you bringing to Adelaide Fringe this season, and where can people catch you?

This year I am doing 2 shows: Vivaldi's Four Seasons created and interpreted in Indian dance style. The piece starts off me draped in colourful silk saris which are swung around depicting the joy of spring, the passion of summer, the falling leaves of autumn and then ending decked only in crystals like diamonds in the snow for winter.

And my main piece is Empire of the Senses which is a unique collaboration between time lapse images by Simon Carroll of the Australian nature, Jorg Hacker's compilation and my dance. The piece has been performed in UK and Japan and has been called "an ode to physical and spiritual ecstasy". Images of the starry skies, clouds, thunderstorms, and desert landscape are projected through my body and I dance within in and become one with it.

The 2 shows are on one after the other so I hope people will stay for both.

What do you want people to feel walking out of your show?

Liberated. Free. Strong. We are ageless. We are the symbol of eternity and infinity.

The Office for Ageing Well is all about staying connected, active and engaged. What role has live performance and creative community played in your own wellbeing over the years?

We all need to connect. We are part of a whole and we gain energy and inspiration from others.  I am also a loner and I love being on my own. You need to be comfortable on your own to be able to connect with others too. You never need to be afraid of hiding who you really are.

What’s your favourite part of the Fringe experience outside the stage — and how do you like to spend a Fringe night when you’re not performing?

See another show of course! And spend time having a drink with another artist or friend or someone I just happened to run into. My husband and I are always together. He does all the lights from my show, and we created the Empire of the Senses together. We are an inspiration to each other.

What’s your advice for having a great night out at Adelaide Fringe?

Plan well but always leave room for the unexpected. So be flexible as well. And never overdo it. If you see a show that moves you it is so nice to go out and have a drink and think about it and talk about it rather than rushing to the next show. Each show deserves time and thought. The artists have put a lot into it, and we love it when the audience gives it love and time.

Why should people book tickets now?

Shows do sell out so it is important to plan. And booking early is also a commitment. And then you have the whole month to look forward to it.

More information from the 2026 Adelaide Fringe edition of WeekendPlus: