BLOOM
Live performance celebrating Greater Manchester and Osaka‘s relationship across history, debuting at EXPO Osaka.
“I felt this was an opportunity to compose a love letter from Manchester to Osaka [...] with dance, costume design, and music all coming together in one dynamic project. It's a dream come true! I hope it sparks curiosity and a deeper connection to our heritage — and, most importantly, brings people together to celebrate it.”
– AFRODEUTSCHEFusing music, fashion and dance, BLOOM is a brand new performance that debuted at EXPO Osaka in June 2025, ahead of performances in Greater Manchester during Japan Week in September 2025.
We conceived BLOOM as a celebration of Greater Manchester’s contemporary creative scene, inviting composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE, dance company Company Chameleon, and queer-led fashion brand Belladonis to create a brand new performance. Alongside them, the live performance features a string ensemble from the world-renowned Hallé orchestra, including virtuosic violinist Roberto Ruisi.
Centred on the theme of metamorphosis and change, BLOOM draws inspiration from the true story of three students from Satsuma, Japan who arrived in Oldham in 1865 to learn about the revolutionary technology used in the local cotton industry. Reflecting on this shared history between Greater Manchester and Osaka, the performance looks towards their connected future, marking a landmark year of cultural exchange between the two regions.
The performance will have its Greater Manchester debut on Sunday September 7th September at 5pm, Hallé St Peters followed by a performance at Oldham Library Theatre, 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th September.
We conceived BLOOM as a celebration of Greater Manchester’s contemporary creative scene, inviting composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE, dance company Company Chameleon, and queer-led fashion brand Belladonis to create a brand new performance. Alongside them, the live performance features a string ensemble from the world-renowned Hallé orchestra, including virtuosic violinist Roberto Ruisi.
Centred on the theme of metamorphosis and change, BLOOM draws inspiration from the true story of three students from Satsuma, Japan who arrived in Oldham in 1865 to learn about the revolutionary technology used in the local cotton industry. Reflecting on this shared history between Greater Manchester and Osaka, the performance looks towards their connected future, marking a landmark year of cultural exchange between the two regions.
The performance will have its Greater Manchester debut on Sunday September 7th September at 5pm, Hallé St Peters followed by a performance at Oldham Library Theatre, 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th September.
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