LONDON BUTOH FESTIVAL

Further Information – Yuko Kawamoto and Fran Barbe Workshop

Sat 19 - 20 September  2009   10am – 5pm    £95/£85 conc.

Bookings:  www.thecourtyard.org.uk or Telephone +44(0)870 163 0717

The Workshop

This joint workshop offers the chance to experience Butoh from two different artist’s perspectives: Tokyo dancer, Yuko Kawamoto and British /Australian Fran Barbe. 

The overall focus of the workshop is ‘Butoh Fu’ - the use of imagery in Butoh, and Yuko and Fran will also share new creative processes generated during their recent collaboration in London.

‘Butoh Fu’ is a term used to refer to Tatsumi Hijikata’s poetic imagery, loaded with information for the senses, the body and the imagination of the dancer. Kazuo Ohno, the other founder of Butoh, is also known for his inspirational use of words. The workshop explores the question of how we work with such imagery in Butoh, and how such a process might be relevant in the broader context of performance.

Yuko performed for many years with Yukio Waguri, one of Hijikata’s dancers who has documented the Butoh Fu of Hijikata on the CD Rom – Butoh Kaden. Yuko is able to share her experience of that process, as it was passed down to her by Waguri, offering rare insights into the history of Butoh, while also seeking her own unique pathway into the future of this fascinating approach.

Fran has been exploring Hijikata’s Butoh Fu from her perspective as a western performer, working across dance and theatre. She facilitates a process through which participants create their own ‘Butoh Fu’, inspired by the example of Hijikata but not copying it or being confined by it. From writing, through improvisation, to choreography, participants will explore the connection between imagination and physicality. The process has proven useful for both dancers and actors, and offers directors / choreographers an interesting model for working creatively with performers. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Yuko Kawamoto is a Butoh artist based in Tokyo. She performed in Yukio Waguri’s company for many years. Waguri worked with Butoh founder, Tatsumi Hijikata during the 70s and 80s. Yuko’s work bears the unmistakable mark of Butoh’s origins, passed down to her from Waguri, but she also brings fresh new challenges and energy to Butoh throught he work of her company - Shinonome Butoh. As well as touring her work in Japan, she has performed all over the world, including Russia, Poland, Germany, and the US as well as South East Asia. Her company performed ‘DO’ in London in 2005 at the Daiwa International Butoh Festival.

Fran Barbe has studied Butoh since 1992. Before that, she trained in ballet, modern dance, and theatre. Originally from Australia, she moved Europe in 1996 and joined Tadashi Endo’s company. Now based in London, she creates solo and group work that draws on Butoh, western dance and the Suzuki actor training method which she has also studied since 1992 with Frank Theatre. Alongside her professional practice, she is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Kent, and is a guest teacher for LISPA (London International School of Performing Arts), Exeter University, National Youth Theatre, Central School of Speech and Drama. She was artistic director of the 2005 Daiwa International Butoh Festival in London, and is one of the directors of Theatre Training Initiative.