A Butoh workshop with somatic approach with Yumino Seki
Inspired by the essay, ‘In Praise of Shadows’ written by the Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki we will explore the aspects of shadows and light through the lens of Japanese traditional eyes.
“Lacquerware decorated in gold is not something to be seen in a brilliant light, to be taken in at a single glance; it should be left in the dark, a part here and a part there picked up by a fain light. Its florid patterns recede into the darkness, conjuring in their stead an inexpressible aura of depth and mystery, of overtones but partly suggested.”
舞踏, Butoh is a form of Japanese avant-garde dance which emerged from the post war chaos in Japan in the late 50s when the country grappled by the clash between new Western technology and traditional Japanese values. Butoh became a new form of expression, neither an imitation of Western culture nor a traditional Japanese cultural practice. Butoh was called ‘the dance of darkness’. Influenced by German Expressionism, self-identity was radically explored with bodily expression. Butoh proposes culturally diverse ways of seeing such as the cycle of life & death, Ma (in between space which applies to both time & space), Wabi (humbleness/simplicity) and Sabi (process of decay).
Somatic is the study of a ‘person’ as a living functional body. Integrating the body, mind and emotion whilst using movement as the main exploratory tool. Shifting attention from ‘action’ to ‘active listening’ and through attentive touch our perception will be enhanced. Experiential anatomy drawn from somatic practice helps us elicit details and a depth of expression, from robust muscular action to subtle cellular presence in micro movement.
Using this sensory feedback and Butoh’s perspective as guidance we will explore Butoh’s unique visceral & complex expression. Creating the neutral body as an empty vehicle the transformative and transient nature of the body will be rigorously investigated, where process becomes the work itself. Aiming to embody sensation and imagery in movement.
Working in groups, pairs and individuals in both dynamic and quiet practice the workshop will be guided by imagery based improvisations with music. Be attentive, curious and playful.
Butoh sees dance as a living process and it pushes the boundaries of what we already know.
‘My work starts from trust; trusting that the body has its own intelligence & experience. Not moving but being moved. Raw yet subtle, meditative yet self-destructive, stark yet sensual. Conflict and harmony co-exist in an ambiguous way. I explore and reflect the inner self where the body becomes mere ‘being’ and where a point of transformation occurs’. Yumino.
Photo by Kaixiang Zhang
Sun 7th July 2024, 2-7pm
£55/£50 paid by 23rd Jun 2024
Booking & info; yuminoseki@gmail.com