I will one of these days be more proactive in providing pictures with some of these posts. Especially the tree I danced with this weekend....
I went to Tilden Regional Park north of UC Berkeley with my friend/mentor/teacher/collaborator for a short hike and a butoh practice/play. On our way back, we stopped at a tree that resembled a spine with the ribs jetting out the sides. We decided to pick this area for practice. Without any plan in mind, we began climbing the tree, which was at a slant, so if you fell you didn't have a long way to go down.
We laid on it; sat; leaned; walked from branch to branch; perched on a branch like crows taking a break; and, of course, danced. There's something calming, spiritual, and grounding when in nature, especially when you take the time to really BE in a spot.
Even though the bark on the tree trunk was dry and falling off, there were living pine needles at the edge of the some of branches, so we both knew it was still alive. Gazing up toward the sky, the other pines around us provided a blanket or net of protection. The wind traveled all around and through us and the tree, adding more of the natural atomsphere.
I wonder if that tree was dancing too. I hope we made it happy because I felt better afterward, even though I felt fine before.
Perhaps it's the connection with nature. With butoh practice, I find the exercises very primitive or related to nature. You learn to embody them as a whole, through a break down of body parts and senses. For example, I loved making my arm, hand and fingers mirror the tree branches. Then, I would allow the rest of my body to join in. Also, the sounds of nature. For instance, gawking like a crow or some other bird. Although, it may seem absurd at first (and we were laughing quite a bit at first), it's quite playful and animalistic.
Aaaahhh, nature! Give me some MORE of that!
I think we all could use a little more.
Do you dance in nature? If so, where?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
My Relationship with Butoh
What is my relationship with Butoh?
I asked myself this question after attending, Between Experiment, Form and Culturalism: Butoh in History and Contemporary Practice at UCLA on May 20-22. I drove down with two other women, who also practice and dance Butoh. I received so much information, it was almost too much! But I got to see some amazing Butoh Dancers perform and connect with other like-minded Butoh enthusiasts.
So what is my relationship to Butoh? I don't know where to start, so let's ask another question, what is Butoh to me? Here's a list:
I love it because it's everything for me when I witness, perform and practice it. I can't stand it sometimes because I can never explain it in words to someone, who has never heard of it. I usually say, "Go on youtube and search 'butoh'." I guess that's why I keep doing it. It's a continuous, ongoing practice, which changes each time you experience it. Something new emerges and more becomes clear or confusing. There's no set form because everyone carries it differently.
For example, Maro Akaji, who was one of the panelists and workshop facilitators at the UCLA Butoh Symposium, explained how we have "molds" or histories within us. These "mold" come from our past, ancestors, traumas, etc. We bring these molds to our Butoh practice. This is why I find it so intriguing and rich.
Although, I could probably write an entire essay on my relationship with Butoh, I feel, right now, it's complicated. But open. I'm open and willing to see what it presents itself to me, and not pushed or pressured into finding its meaning. Only a sense of allowing and appreciation for its mystery and beauty at this time.
For those of you who have practiced, performed and/or witnessed Butoh, what's your relationship with it? What keeps you interested and/or coming back? Love? Hate? Meaning?
I asked myself this question after attending, Between Experiment, Form and Culturalism: Butoh in History and Contemporary Practice at UCLA on May 20-22. I drove down with two other women, who also practice and dance Butoh. I received so much information, it was almost too much! But I got to see some amazing Butoh Dancers perform and connect with other like-minded Butoh enthusiasts.
So what is my relationship to Butoh? I don't know where to start, so let's ask another question, what is Butoh to me? Here's a list:
- mysterious
- transformation
- different from other dance forms such as ballet, modern, etc.
- cathartic
- emotional
- physical
- dark
- beautiful
- violent
- sensual
- moving meditation
- chaotic
- disorganized
- surreal
- healthy
I love it because it's everything for me when I witness, perform and practice it. I can't stand it sometimes because I can never explain it in words to someone, who has never heard of it. I usually say, "Go on youtube and search 'butoh'." I guess that's why I keep doing it. It's a continuous, ongoing practice, which changes each time you experience it. Something new emerges and more becomes clear or confusing. There's no set form because everyone carries it differently.
For example, Maro Akaji, who was one of the panelists and workshop facilitators at the UCLA Butoh Symposium, explained how we have "molds" or histories within us. These "mold" come from our past, ancestors, traumas, etc. We bring these molds to our Butoh practice. This is why I find it so intriguing and rich.
Although, I could probably write an entire essay on my relationship with Butoh, I feel, right now, it's complicated. But open. I'm open and willing to see what it presents itself to me, and not pushed or pressured into finding its meaning. Only a sense of allowing and appreciation for its mystery and beauty at this time.
For those of you who have practiced, performed and/or witnessed Butoh, what's your relationship with it? What keeps you interested and/or coming back? Love? Hate? Meaning?
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