Weekend Workshop : Butoh as Creative Catalyst
Photo by Vikk Shayen: image from ButohOUT!2025
Butoh as Creative Catalyst
Weekend Workshop
at Dancehouse
FACILITATOR
Yumi Umiumare
WHEN
27(Fri) 28(Sat) 29(Sun) June 2025
COST
$260/240
WHERE
Dancehouse : 150 Princes St, Carlton North
Weekend Workshop : Butoh as Creative Catalyst
Yumi Umiumare and Atsushi Takenouchi in ButohOUT!2025
(Photo by Vikk Shayen)
”When I dance, I try to become one with the light, but I also know that the shadow is always with me.”
Kazuo Ohno
(Butoh dancer who continued performing into his 100s)
Following last year’s popular weekend workshop at Dancehouse, Yumi Umiumare returns to guide participants in discovering their own ‘creative gateway’ through the physical and philosophical approach of Butoh—a Japanese contemporary and subversive dance form.
Originally called the “Dance of Darkness,” Butoh contains many layers of practice and philosophy. Yumi believes it exists beyond duality—where darkness and light are not fixed states, and one always contains the seeds of the other. ‘Beauty’ can be ugly, and ‘ugly’ can be beautiful. Broken things can become new catalysts for transformation.
Over the weekend, Yumi will guide participants through 10 focused points and introduce historical, classical, holistic, and contemporary approaches to Butoh, while also sharing insights from her diverse practice.
This workshop is suited for those wanting to reflect on an existing piece, create new movement phrases, or simply dive into the ocean of Butoh.
The workshop welcomes both experienced practitioners and those new to the form.
You are able to attend only the ‘lecture: what is Butoh” on Friday 27 June, from 6pm.
(The workshop price includes the lecture.)
あめつちの聲＿In the middle of Awe , at Tenri University Dance Club 2024 (Photo by Takahiro Kitagawa)
The 10 Focus points：
1.Presence & Being：在り方
2.Gravity / Suspension：重さ／つられる体
3.Isolation – “Each part of the body has its own kingdom”：「体それぞれの部分に王国がある」
4.Internal & External Landscapes：内側と外側
5.’Ma’ (space in between) & Accumulations：間と溜め
6.The Moment of Transition：変容
7.Metaphor & Object：暗喩とオブジェ
8.Sequence of Movement :身振り手振り
9.Form-> Non-Form->Transformation：形 ->無形-> 変容
10.Imagination / Creation /：想像／創造
Time line(subject to be changed)：
27 (Fri) June @6pm-8pm
Informal Lecture: What is Butoh ?
including Q & A (using slides &,video of historical and contemporary aspects of Butoh)
28(Sat) June @10am-4:30pm
10:00am-10:30am : Introduction and warm up
10:30am-1:00 pm : Session #1
1:00pm-1:45pm : Lunch break
1: 45pm-2:00pm: informal Q and A
2:00pm-4:00 pm: Session#2
4:00pm-4:30pm : creation and debrief
29(Sun) June @10am-4:30pm
10:00am-10:30am : Warm up
10:30am-1:00 pm : Session #3
1:00pm-1:45pm : Lunch break
1: 45pm-2:00pm: informal Q and A
2:00pm-3:30 pm: Session#3
3:30pm-4:30pm : creation and debrief“