Just thought I'd start a discussion about the grotesque and femaleness. Mary Russo has an essay called 'The Female Grotesque' that is actually one of the texts for the CI lectures but might be interesting to look at now for this project. And as discussed on Friday Mikhail Bakhtin writes on the grotesque through medieval carnival.
It might be interesting to explore/discuss notions of female and feminine and the grotesque and share ideas for potential influence to the practical aspects of this work.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Performances - London
So, as discussed these are the performance dates coming up in London:
for the full information about the 3 different dates/shows
Discuss what dates/shows you are most interested in and I will try to book accordingly.
November 11th
Atsushi Takenouchi and Hiroko Komiya solo dance and after show lecture/discussion
Goldsmiths University of London, 6pm
December 13th and 14th
Yuko Kaseki and Marie-Gabrielle Rotie solos
Cockpit Theatre, London 7.30pm
for the full information about the 3 different dates/shows
Discuss what dates/shows you are most interested in and I will try to book accordingly.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Butoh Links
some larger ensemble contemporary shows/companies:
Sankai Juku - Kinan Shonen
Sankai Juku - Promo
Huesos Rotos
Close up/distinctive movement qualities:
Yuko Ota - Solo
Ten Pen Chii
Maya Dunsky & Menifa Ensemble
Sankai Juku - Kinan Shonen
Sankai Juku - Promo
Huesos Rotos
Close up/distinctive movement qualities:
Yuko Ota - Solo
Ten Pen Chii
Maya Dunsky & Menifa Ensemble
Butoh research questions?
1/ What stylistic qualities can you identify in the butoh work you research?
2/ How does butoh dance compare to Western dance styles?
2/ How does butoh dance compare to Western dance styles?
Butoh blurb
Here are my intro notes from yesterdays session. The suggested video links (which we didn't have time for) and a research questions will follow:
Born in late 1950's/postwar Japan by Tatsumi Hijikata. Takes influence from but sought to rebel against constraints of Japanese traditional dance and influenced by western modern dance.
Unlike dance is Western sense, Butoh does not have a specific form (though dancers do have similar styles and vocabularies i.e. the evolved white make-up for one...)
It is approached more like a mediation or martial art where the dancer brings forth and responds choreographically to energy from within. "Butoh is a form that almost precedes dance, just as a child moves and plays before he dances." (Akaji Maro on http://home.earthlink.net/~bdenatale/Butoh&SurrealismPart2.html)
Accordingly Butoh is often largely improvised although large global companies (Sankai Juku etc.) do construct vast stage shows where a vast portion of the stage directions/choreography are fixed.
Working, as we are. with type of 'Butohesque' vocabularies as a surface form does disservice to Butoh itself which rejects such approaches. Butoh performance is focussed on meticulous preparation, emptying, training to develop physical prowess but also catharsism in its performers. The preparation is as much mental as physical or indeed psycho-physical.
“It has no physical technique or common terminology for the dance itself. It is a dance unto itself, for it is the unique expression of the dancer unencumbered by language and tradition and constraint. “ (Dan Hermon on http://www.butoh.net/define.html)
It is sometimes not considered a dance form but more like a religion. Butoh is considered primarily a form for the dancer his/herself rather than for the purpose of 'entertainment'. Butoh seeks to tap into the dancers inner world/unconscious and connect, through bodily reactions, to the outer world/environment. It has been/is often refered to as a 'dance of darkness' because of this potentially dark or taboo inner world that can be and is often revealled.
Born in late 1950's/postwar Japan by Tatsumi Hijikata. Takes influence from but sought to rebel against constraints of Japanese traditional dance and influenced by western modern dance.
Unlike dance is Western sense, Butoh does not have a specific form (though dancers do have similar styles and vocabularies i.e. the evolved white make-up for one...)
It is approached more like a mediation or martial art where the dancer brings forth and responds choreographically to energy from within. "Butoh is a form that almost precedes dance, just as a child moves and plays before he dances." (Akaji Maro on http://home.earthlink.net/~bdenatale/Butoh&SurrealismPart2.html)
Accordingly Butoh is often largely improvised although large global companies (Sankai Juku etc.) do construct vast stage shows where a vast portion of the stage directions/choreography are fixed.
Working, as we are. with type of 'Butohesque' vocabularies as a surface form does disservice to Butoh itself which rejects such approaches. Butoh performance is focussed on meticulous preparation, emptying, training to develop physical prowess but also catharsism in its performers. The preparation is as much mental as physical or indeed psycho-physical.
“It has no physical technique or common terminology for the dance itself. It is a dance unto itself, for it is the unique expression of the dancer unencumbered by language and tradition and constraint. “ (Dan Hermon on http://www.butoh.net/define.html)
It is sometimes not considered a dance form but more like a religion. Butoh is considered primarily a form for the dancer his/herself rather than for the purpose of 'entertainment'. Butoh seeks to tap into the dancers inner world/unconscious and connect, through bodily reactions, to the outer world/environment. It has been/is often refered to as a 'dance of darkness' because of this potentially dark or taboo inner world that can be and is often revealled.
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