"exploring the most fundamental elements of physical and psychological existence"

Butoh, conceived in Japan during the late 50’s and early 60’s, during the social turmoil after the war sought to find an expression through dance and movement for a visible and invisible state of living. Rather than aspiring to an aesthetic ideal, the dance attempts to expose the joys and sorrows of life through the Butoh Spirit, exploring the most fundamental elements of physical and psychological existence.

1. Introductive workshop

Through the workshop, Yumi will introduce the basic philosophy and physical exercises in Butoh dance discipline. The workshop is open to all levels of experience. Participants will explore:

• Individual body presence/being, focusing on the spatial elements, both internal and external.
• Gravity, Accumulations, Isolation and sensation
• 'Ma' -sense of emptiness, engaging active blankness and active pause
• Memory and Forms
• Repetition- gate way to be entranced

2. Intensive workshop-Transformation, Provocation

Yumi will introduce the discipline of Butoh dance – its philosophy and physical etudes – within the framework of contemporary Japanese/Western physical theatre-making. Yumi’s hybrid existence that spans both Japanese and Australian culture has inspired her in the creation and development of a unique genre: Butoh Cabaret in which she explores cultural identity, narrative and abstraction.
 Participants will explore the elements of body presence through

• ABC – Accumulating Being Contrasting
• Spatial elements – MA 間 both internal and external
• Imaginary exercises – internal and external landscape
• Individual narrative will also be explored through
• Characterization
• Provocation
• Transformation

to embrace the unknown.

3. Residential workshop

The aim of the workshop is to expand our body awareness, deepen our consciousness and unleash our internal expressions through a response to landscape.

The annual residential workshop is conducted at140 acre site nearby to Mt Arapiles(near Horsham) allows participants to move between bush land, sand dunes, open fields, river and elevated rock, opening up the senses to color, texture, sound and form.

Over the workshop, Yumi will introduce various methods of Butoh, Chi/Gravity exercises, Breathing methods and also exploring our consciousness of well-being. Those body works will act as powerful counterpoints and as opportunities to filter one into the other, strengthening the links between the external environment and the internal landscape.