Fusing music, fashion and dance, Bloom will debut at EXPO 2025 Osaka ahead of performances in Greater Manchester during Japan Week 2025 (4-9 September).
Bloom is a celebration of Greater Manchester’s contemporary creative scene, created by composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE, dance company Company Chameleon, and queer-led fashion brand Belladonis, featuring musicians from the Hallé, including virtuosic violinist Roberto Ruisi.
Centred on the theme of metamorphosis and change, it 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.
The live performance, brought to life by locally based musicians and dancers, will reflect the shared industrial history of Greater Manchester and Osaka whilst looking towards their connected future, marking a landmark year of cultural exchange between the two regions.
Salford-based composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE (Henrietta Smith-Rolla) has been a driving force in Manchester’s experimental electronic music scene for over a decade. As a DJ she has performed across the world alongside artists such as Aphex Twin, Carl Craig and 808 State and in recent years has built a reputation for her orchestral collaborations, including commissions from the London Contemporary Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and the BBC Concert Orchestra. For BLOOM she will work with Hallé leader, Roberto Ruisi, to develop a live performance for string ensemble.
AFRODEUTSCHE said: “Japan has always been a dream destination for me. I felt this was an opportunity to compose a love letter from Manchester to Osaka — two places that hold such significance in my heart. As an artist, I rarely get the opportunity to collaborate across different mediums — 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.”
Bringing movement to Bloom,three dancers from Manchester’s internationally touring Company Chameleon will perform choreography by Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Kevin Edward Turner MBE.
Kevin said, “Greater Manchester is a cultural powerhouse. Holding the torch for Greater Manchester and being the symbol of the amazing art that takes place in the city region is truly an honour and a privilege. I am really inspired by the practices of both AFRODEUTSCHE and Belladonis and I think we will make something very special together.”
Queer-led, Manchester-based design house, Belladonis, will complete the performance with innovative luxury fashion, drawing inspiration from new technology and traditional techniques. Co-founder Will Kerr said, “It’s so fantastic to be part of BLOOM and join such an incredible team. As creatives living in the city it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate Greater Manchester on a world stage.”
Announced by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), BLOOM is part of a strategic programme of events in 2025 designed to deepen Greater Manchester’s ties with Japan, and an opportunity to put the city region’s creativity centre-stage at one of the biggest international events of the decade.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This is yet another example of Greater Manchester showcasing itself on the global stage and sharing everything that is great about our city-region. We are incredibly proud of our cultural heritage and the trailblazing artists and performers that now call Greater Manchester home.
Bloom is a gift from the people of Greater Manchester to the people of Osaka, celebrating the unique relationship between our two places and I couldn’t be prouder of the creative team working to bring this beautiful new piece to life.
It is a perfect example of what is great about culture in our city region, rooted in our proud past, collaborating across genres, artforms and continents to create something innovative yet distinctly Greater Manchester that will delight audiences both here and in Japan.”
