25th March, 2019

 A few notes on Butoh

·         Historical

o   Founded in 1950s Japan coming out of the Hiroshima bomb, surrealism, german expressionism, mime, flamenco and more  

·         Practice

o   Goes from the inside out, having a strong mental image or landscape and your body moving from that

o   You’re in the moment and also transported

·         Aesthetically let’s explore asymmetry and passive movement

 Today is a sunny day and I wanted to incorporate that into our practice.

We’ll go through different exercises today based on up, down and being level.

1.       Feet warm up DO YOU FEEL OK WITH TOUCHING YOUR FEET?

o   EDU: Chinese reflexology is believed to stimulate elimination, improve circulation and support the immune system. The Chinese believe it restores the body’s equilibrium of yin and yang, encourages healing and strengthens the body. Gives a physical recharge and boosts immune systems.

2.       Shaking warm up

o   EDU: Luang Por Jarun 

3.       Butoh forms Space walk

o   WORDS ON CLEARING MIND

o   All past, all memory, all self is the surface of your back, and is smoking away

o   Your focus on a distant horizon; all of space and time

o   Your body filled with this space

o   Your body filled with a quiet intensity

o   Blood coursing through veins as fire

o   SOME FORM:

§  Stand feet together, knees bent, pelvis tucked under

§  Feet glide along the ground ICE FEET

§  Body floating

§  Head on a string

o   EXPLORE THE WEIGHT SHIFTING,  

4.       Butoh forms Flower living and dying walk

o   Coming to the end of your space walk feel that immense radiating space  

o   Enjoy the radiant sun upwards WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

o   Feel your feet rooted

o   Sway in the wind

o   Incorporate the walk: with one step looking up to the sun, then next, shrivelling down

5.       Improvise with a tissue with a partner

6.       Big group improvise, one half watch USING THE FORMS OF TODAY AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WUOLD LIKE. MOVE WITH OR AGAINST THE MUSIC, play with time slowing, wind blowing and sun

7.       Other half impro

8.       Feedback + Warm down 

Notes for myself:

9.       Use humor and banter to bring people in

10.   Bring it back to being present

11.   No right or wrong way

12.   PLAYFUL 😊

13.   LET’S EXPLORE TOGETHER