Dance is a dialogue with gravity.
–Ushio AMAGATSU
History
It is an avant-garde and subversive dance at a time when traditionalismofNo theaterandKabuki dominate in opposition to the westernization of the continent.
"Butô" is composed of two ideograms (舞踏) which mean dancing and tapping the ground.This dance is characterized by slowness of movement, minimalist poetry and great stylistic freedom.It is the dance of step and gesture in the service of metamorphosis.
"Neo-butô" means that this dance has passed through the filter of Western transmission, making this Japanese art an art of universal movement. A shadow dance at the time of its creation, the neo-butoh dance aims to move from shadow to light, from yang to yin to ultimately transcend the body/mind dualism.
Pedagogy
The pedagogy of neo-butoh dance is based on a singular quality of presence which aims to slow down movement and enter a state of modified consciousness in which time unfolds differently. Attention is then drawn to:
sensoriality, perception and imagination,
The anchoring in its supports,
refocusing in the lower abdomen,
"let it dance"
torsion, tension and extension movements,
facial expressions and
breathing
Procedure
Generally, lessons and courses begin with a time for physical and mental conditioning, sensory exploration around a technical theme and end with a time for discussion or relaxation.