Butoh

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Kazuo Ohno

File:Demostración de danza Butoh - MNCM.webm

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Sankai Juku

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Jay Hirabayashi 07

Butoh (舞踏, Butō) is a form of Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques, and motivations for dance, performance, or movement. It typically involves playful and grotesque imagery, taboo topics, extreme or absurd environments, and is traditionally performed in white body makeup with slow hyper-controlled motion.

History

Butoh was co-founded by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno in 1959. The art form emerged in the post-World War II era, during a time of intense social and political upheaval in Japan. It was initially known as "Ankoku Butoh" (暗黒舞踏), which translates to "Dance of Darkness." The first Butoh piece, "Kinjiki" (Forbidden Colors), was performed by Hijikata and was based on the novel of the same name by Yukio Mishima.

Characteristics

Butoh is characterized by its unique approach to movement and expression. Performers often use slow, controlled movements and contorted postures to convey deep emotional states. The dance often explores themes of death, eroticism, and the grotesque, challenging conventional notions of beauty and aesthetics.

Costume and Makeup

Butoh performers traditionally wear white body makeup, which serves to erase individual identity and create a blank canvas for expression. Costumes can vary widely but often include elements that are unconventional or symbolic.

Influence and Legacy

Butoh has had a significant impact on contemporary dance and performance art worldwide. It has influenced various artists and has been incorporated into different forms of media, including theatre, film, and visual arts. Notable Butoh groups include Dairakudakan, Sankai Juku, and Ariadone.

Notable Practitioners

• Tatsumi Hijikata
• Kazuo Ohno
• Yoshito Ohno
• Ko Murobushi
• Min Tanaka

Related Pages

• Japanese dance
• Performance art
• Contemporary dance
• Avant-garde
• Kazuo Ohno
• Tatsumi Hijikata