TOKYO — OWARI Workshop

☆ TOKYO ☆

OWARI workshop by Yumi Umiumare
(Owari contains OWARI終わり: finishing, and WARU割るcrack open, and 悪naughty）

9(Sat) November 10:00-16:00@Studio Sun and Moon in Yotsuya　9500 yen

There will be also have a live performance followed by the workshop and special combo tickets available, Finish(OWARI) what you want, Don’t be a goody goody but let us 'break through' to begin for somthing new!

This is a special one-day workshop by Yumi Umiumare, a performance artist and Butoh dancer from the vast open land Australia.

Moving your ‘body’
Making your ‘sound’
Conning with unknown and invisible things
Arising from within and without.
Dance with freedom, joy, depth and mystery.

<Connect>
Connect with the deepest part of yourself and become part of the surrounding space.

<Greet each part of your body>
Inspired by Butoh’s founder Tatsumi Hijikata's words: “Each part of the body has its own kingdom.”

<Open, laugh, to break through>
Open up, laugh, and break through.

<The empty space>
Empty yourself and surrender to the space around you.

<Greet the invisible things and your inner monster>
Dance with the quirky beings and monsters that live inside your body.

<CreationSOUZOU and ImaginationSOUZOU>
Let us “create” and “imagine.”

DETAILS:

Workshop: 9(Sat) Nov 2024 @10:00-16:00

Event by 高橋 広部京子, 音十羽 のりこ

Where: Studio Sun and Moon, Tokyo JAPAN

Duration: 6 hr

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Performance:  9(Sat) Nov 2024 @19:00

WARSAW, POLAND Workshop

☆ WARSAW ☆

BUTOH KAI 6 begins with the performance "Tea Trance" by the Japanese dancer YUMI UMIUMARE living in Australia. The day before the workshops, on November 16, you will be able to see it free of charge thanks to funding from the Mokotów District Office/Warsaw Railway Station). Check out the program! In the meantime... on Sunday, November 17, we encourage you to take part in workshops (registration rules at the bottom of the entry) relating to the artist's dance philosophy:

“In Butoh, dance connects with forces that come from inside the earth and simply pass through the body. The dancer does not move; traffic passes through them.” — Akaji Maro (DaiRakudakan)

Butoh can be mysterious, abstract, and esoteric, but it can also serve as a creative gateway, catalyst, and even lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

Australia-based Japanese Butoh dancer/choreographer Yumi Umiumare guides participants through special focus points, helping them explore the physical and philosophical dimensions of Butoh from both classical and contemporary perspectives.

This unique workshop also explores Butoh's connection to Yumi's ongoing passion for ritual and ceremony, integrating elements of the Japanese tea ceremony and her recent exploration of Jujutsu 呪術, the Japanese concept of shamanism.

We invite both experienced practitioners and those who are just starting their adventure with butoh to the workshops.

Special focus points

>Embodiment and Presence: Immerse yourself fully in the present moment by expressing raw emotions and experiences through Butoh while creating simple rituals to enter sacred spaces with mindfulness and intention.

>Symbolism and Ritual: Explore the rich symbolism and ritual elements as you explore the philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony and its essence of 和 (harmony), 敬 (respect), 清 (purity) and 寂 (peace), abstracted through contemporary Butoh styles.

>Mysteries and magic: delve into the mysteries of Jujutsu呪術, where everyday life intersects with the sacred and profane, discovering the spiritual connection between the visible and invisible worlds.

>Transformation and self-expression: Experience catharsis through movement, ritual and spiritual exploration, discovering deep emotions and releasing tension.

DETAILS:

Performance When: 16 (Friday) Nov

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Workshop When: 17(Sat) Nov

Event by Fundacja POMPKA, ButohSfera and Anita Zdrojewska BUTOHSFERA | Fundacja Pompka, ul. Narbutta 46/48 lok. 51, Warszawa

Duration: 5 hr

VIENNA, AUSTRIA Workshop — Butoh for unlocking Our Inner Beast - For All Dance Abilities Bodies

☆ VIENNA ☆

A Workshop for disabled and non-disabled dancers and performers. Join Australian-based Japanese Butoh dancer and choreographer Yumi Umiumare for an inclusive workshop that explores the foundational philosophy and physical practices of Butoh for disabled and non-disabled beginners, dancers and performers.

Yumi is an established Japanese Butoh dancer, choreographer, and creator of Butoh Cabaret works. She moved from Japan to Australia in 1993 after touring with the seminal Japanese Butoh company DaiRakudakan. For over 30 years, Yumi has been creating her distinctive style of works, renowned for provoking visceral emotions and engaging with cultural identities with a sense of humour. Her creations have been seen across Australia, Japan, Europe, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and South America, and have been featured in numerous festivals worldwide.

As a choreographer, Yumi has worked on many socially engaged theatre projects with Australian Aboriginal communities, refugees, culturally diverse groups, and inclusive companies. She has been the artistic director of ButohOUT! in Melbourne since 2017, playing an active role in the international contemporary Butoh scene. Yumi’s recent works focus on Dance, Tea, and Spirit, seeking deeper integration between the arts and spirituality.

Photography by Leah Jing McIntosh

Information, reservations and registration: viennabutohfest@gmail.com

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

When: Nov 23(Sat) and 24 (Sun) 10am-12pm

Where: Arashi Colletive Movement Center, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Wien, Hösaal 5

108€​​

1 workshop/2 hour: 60,-
2 workshops: 108,-

By Yumi Umiumare – (Japan/Australia)

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VIENNA, AUSTRIA Workshop — Creative Gate Way to Butoh through Ritual and Spirit

☆ VIENNA ☆

"In Butoh, dance is connected to the forces that come from the center of the earth and simply pass through the body. The dancer is not doing the movement; the movement is coming through them."
— Akaji Maro (DaiRakudakan)

Butoh is often mysterious, abstract, and esoteric, yet it can also act as a creative gateway, a catalyst for transformation, and a path to unexpected breakthroughs. In this unique workshop, Australian-based Japanese Butoh dancer and choreographer Yumi Umiumare will guide participants through an exploration of Butoh’s physical and philosophical dimensions, blending classical techniques with contemporary interpretations.
​
Yumi’s workshop also incorporates her deep passion for ritual and ceremony, combining elements of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and her recent focus on Jujutsu 呪術, a form of Japanese shamanism. This immersive experience is open to both seasoned practitioners and those new to Butoh, offering a profound opportunity for personal and creative discovery.
​
Special Focus Points:

Embodiment and Presence:
Immerse yourself fully in the moment, expressing raw emotions and experiences through Butoh. Create simple rituals to enter sacred spaces with mindfulness and intention.

Symbolism and Ritual:
Explore the rich symbolism and ritualistic elements of Butoh, discovering the philosophy behind the Japanese Tea Ceremony and its core values of 和 (harmony), 敬 (respect), 清 (purity), and 寂 (tranquility), abstracted through contemporary Butoh styles.

Mysteries and Magic:
Delve into the mystical world of Jujutsu 呪術, where everyday life intersects with the sacred and profane. Uncover the spiritual link between the visible and invisible worlds.

Transformation and Self-Expression:
Experience catharsis through movement, ritual, and spiritual exploration, releasing deep emotions and tension while discovering new forms of self-expression.

Participation: Open for all who have the experience or curiosity of movement practices, art and nature. No previous experience is needed.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Sat 23.11 & Sun 24.11
14:00 - 18:00

@Arashi Colletive Movement Center

Augasse 2-6, 1090 Wien
Hösaal 5

1 day workshop: 80€​​
2 workshops: 150€​​

​Information, reservations and registration
viennabutohfest@gmail.com

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ButohOUT! 2024: Performance Making Workshop - Visible and In-Visible

Photo by Karen Okuda, Bankstown Arts Centre

ButohOUT!2024 presents

Performance Making Workshop — Visible and In-Visible by Yumi Umiumare

2(Sat) and 3 (Sun) November @10-4pm

＠Abbotsford Convent, Oratory
Melbourne

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Workshop Details

This workshop is for you to explore the laboratory process of performance-making through unique, constructive, and deconstructive styles of Butoh.

As a participant, you will be taken on a journey to explore the visible and invisible aspects of Butoh and performance-making. Yumi guides you to explore your own idiosyncratic creative process to ‘actualise’ your original inspiration and ideas.

The workshop welcomes both experienced practitioners and those new to the practice who are willing to dive into the creative process. It will include visualisations and conversations and aims to be accessible to all bodies present. Instruction will be given according to participants' preferences.

10 Focused Points:

• Finding Inspiration/Original Excitement: ひらめき

• Collecting Your Ideas/Creative Materials: 収集

• Defining Style and Flow: 流儀

• Poetry/Drama/Abstraction/Story: 物語や詩

• The Moment of Transition: 変容

• Metaphor and Object: 暗喩とオブジェ

• Sequence of Movement/Choreography/Collections of Gestures: 身振り手振り

• Other Elements (e.g., music): その他の助け（音楽など）

• Exploring Own Journey: 自分の旅路

• Creative Gateway and Imagination: 創造性の入り口と想像

Read more about it at ButohOUT!24

For more details:

CONTACT
0478 634 052
butohout@gmail.com

FACILITATOR
Yumi Umiumare

COST
$330 Full
$300 Concession

*If you are a past ButohOUT! Ensemble, a special discount is available. Please contact
butohout@gmail.com for more details.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Before proceeding with your purchase, please read these Terms and Conditions carefully.

PAYMENT & REGISTRATION

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Below : Past workshop photos by ButohOUT! 

Finucane & Smith's Global Smash Club

Moira Finucane. Maude Davey. Yumi Umiumare.
Mama Alto… and so much more.

Part club. Part happening. Part party. Part transcendent ritual. Part self indulgent crap. All history in the making. Get up, dance or run! Finucane & Smith take over the ETU Ballroom for the last week of Fringe in an unmissable legendary future-spective.

Finucane & Smith's Global Smash Club

Finucane & Smith’s wild club takeover. Global smash. F*cked up hits. Living legends. Futurespective.

Dates 16 - 19 Oct 2024
Time 7:00pm, 9:00pm (60 minutes)
Venues Festival Hub: Trades Hall - ETU Ballroom

JAPANESQUE NIGHT ジャパネスク・ナイト！

JAPANESQUE NIGHT

ジャパネスク・ナイト！

DANCE  MUSIC TEA CEREMONY JAPANESE FOOD DRINKS

BUTOH舞踏BAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH BUTOHOUT! 

EXPERIMENTATION FOR ARTS & HEARTS!

SUN 22 SEP 2024
6:30PM OPEN / 7PM SHOW

At IZAKAYA BY TAMURA田村笑店　343 Smith St, Fitzroy

Ticket on the door $15/$10

 
AI YAMAMOTO　山本あい

AYAKO FUJII　　藤井綾子

YUMI UMIUMARE　　ゆみうみうまれ
and Special guest from  TENRI University Dance Club 天理大ダンスクラブ

Coffee & SerendipiTea

Photo: Jodie Hutchinson

Coffee & SerendipiTea
At Bankstown Arts Centre

　　　　31 (Sat) Aug @10-4pm : 1 Day Butoh Workshop
3(Tue)- 6(Fri) Sep @12-3pm : Tea time with Yumi Umiumare
7(Sat) Sep @2-4pm : Performance and Panel Discussions

Immerse in a world of chance encounters! Featuring artists @instapamit and @yumiumiumare, this exhibition transforms Bankstown Arts Centre into a hybrid coffee shop and teahouse setting, inviting visitors to interact and become part of the artwork.

Coffee & SerendipiTea opens on 27 July to coincide with Bankstown Bites, featuring performance works by Yumi and Pamela at 3pm.

Other events to support this exhibition, including a butoh workshop, clay workshop, performance art sessions, and more will be announced soon.

 

Apologia

August Performance Apologia

Apologia at Malthouse Theatre

6-18 Aug 

Fill the Earth (digital presentation)

12-14 July 

Puffy ‘Mother Earth’

Costume: by Haruko Ogiso

I've become puffy 'mother earth', surreally dancing (digitally) in this project in Adelaide.

Fill The Earth

11 - 14 JUL 2024

@nexusarts

Go and check it, if you are near by!

Created by Juha Vanhakartano, in collaboration with 7 artists, including myself!

(My costume was made by fabulous Haruko Ogiso!!)

アデレードのプロジェクト「Fill The Earth」に映像として参加しています。2年前に創った作品でまだ未公開。7人のアーティストのそれぞれの作品の中で、膨れ上がった「母なる地球」となってシュールに踊っております。

お近くの方は是非どうぞ。

(ハルちゃん、コスチュームありがとうございました！！）

Detail:

nexusarts.org.au/events/fill-the-earth

Butoh Weekend Workshop at Dancehouse

Photo by Vikk Shayen: from INVOCATIONたまおこし２０２３

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Butoh :Creative Gate Way

Weekend Workshop

at Dancehouse

FACILITATOR
Yumi Umiumare

WHEN
8(Sat) and 9(Sun) June 2024
10am-4:30 pm

COST
$230/210

WHERE
Dancehouse : 150 Princes St, Carlton North

Terms & Conditions

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aBOUT: Butoh Weekend Workshop : Creative Gate Way

(Photo by Vikk Shayen)
Yumi Umiumare and Kyoko Amara in INVOCATIONたまおこし2023 )

"Western dance begins with its feet firmly planted on the ground, whereas Butoh begins with a dance wherein the dancer tries in vain to find their feet." - Tatsumi Hijikata

Butoh can be mysterious, abstract, and esoteric, yet it can also serve as a creative gateway, catalyst, and even lead to unexpected breakthroughs. Over the weekend, Yumi leads participants through 10 focused points(as below), guiding them to explore the physical and philosophical dimensions of Butoh from both classical and contemporary perspectives.

The workshop is welcoming both experienced practitioners and those new to the practice.

The 10 Focus points：

1. Presence and 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 and External Landscape : 内側と外側

5.  'Ma'( sense of emptiness) and accumulations: 間（ま）と溜（ため）

6. Repetitions : 反復

7. Form /Mask : 型/面

8. Form -> Non Form -> Trans-Formation : 形　->　無形　->変容

9. Imagination／Creation：想像/創造

10. Creative Gateway : 創造性の入り口へ

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Fool Moon ButohBAR | In Associated with ButohOUT!

ButohBAR- FOOL Moon event

Free Entrance!!

SUNDAY 12 MAY 2024

6:30PM TO 8:30PM

VENUE: IZAKAYA BY TAMURA, 343 SMITH STREET, FITZROY

FOOL (in Taro ): " It symbolises the embrace of new beginnings, the expansion of one's horizons, and the willingness to take risks guided by intuition" 

Yes!! Come and Join us to be FOOL together.

舞踏BAR、再び単発で開催。

今回は入場無料！

FOOL MOONは　阿呆（あほう）の月

タロットカードでのFOOLは

「め新しいことを目指して、視野をおっ広げ、直感にまかせて、リスクをバシバシ冒す（意訳笑）」だそうです。

踊る阿呆にみる阿呆。

そう、アートとハートのために踊りましょう！

Butoh and Beyond 舞踏とその先

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APRIL Workshop

JOIN US TUESDAY 30TH APRIL 2024

Workshop: Butoh

FACILITATOR
Yumi Umiumare

WHEN
30(Tue) April @6-9pm

COST
$40 for drop-in

WHERE
OKTopia: 754R High St, Thornbury VICTORIA

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aBOUT: Butoh and Beyond  舞踏とその先

(Photo :Weekly workshop 2023 @OkTopia)

Last session of the 6 week workshop is coming up, get in quick to join in and focuses on training the body through classic Butoh methods combined with Yumi’s unique contemporary approach to Butoh, incorporating aspects of ritual as a gateway to enter and spirit as a soul to dive into. 

The sessions have been focused on various themes, including physical exploration, form and non-form and creating personal expressions through ritual. This workshop is open to participants of all levels of experience and artistic discipline. While it is recommended to attend all six sessions, drop-ins are also welcome.

N.B. Due to the studio space, limited spots are available.

FACILITATOR
Yumi Umiumare

WHEN
30(Tue) April @6-9pm

COST
$40 for drop-in

WHERE
OKTopia: 754R High St, Thornbury VICTORIA

Terms & Conditions

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Last Full Moon ButohBAR @Izakaya by Tamura BAR

Last Full Moon ButohBAR@Izakaya by Tamura.
The next one will be another full-moon or fool-moon.
Stay tuned !!

Our first experimentation of ButohBAR was held on Sunday 24 March, @ Izakaya by Tamura田村笑店 , a funky Izakaya in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we may as well keep dancing."（Japanese proverb)
「踊る阿呆に見る阿呆、踊るアホなら踊らにゃソンソン！」

Music, Dance, Guerrilla performance and screaming session(!!) with nice sake酒 and foods from downstairs!!

Come and join us next time!!

Yes the ticket is cheap so you can drink and eat!!

田村笑店での満月ButohBARやります。

「踊る阿呆に見る阿呆、踊るアホなら踊らにゃソンソン！」

音楽あり、踊りあり、ゲリラパフォーマンスあり、叫びセッションありと、やはり何が起こるかわかりません。笑

美味しいお酒、食べ物と共に観れるButohBAR,チラッと遊びに来ませんか？

（チケットは飲み食べしていただけるために大安売り！！）

'ProximiTEA'

Japanese Tea Ceremony
'ProximiTEA'
Yumi Umiumare and Taka Takiguchi

We are serving 'ProximiTEA' @ Oratory, Abbotsford Convent. 一服差し上げます。是非お越しください〜

"Take part in a performance and installation featuring classical and contemporary Japanese tea ceremonies. Sit down with Yumi and Taka as they invoke the Japanese notion of ‘ma’ or ‘active pause’ and serve you a bowl of ‘proximiTEA’ through intimate and playful rituals."

WHEN: Saturday 27 April 2024
WHERE: Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford, Melbourne
Room: 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
𝟭𝟮𝗽𝗺 – 𝟰𝗽𝗺 (𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝟭.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 – 𝟮.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺)

Part of Abbotsford Convent Open Day, Read More

Special Residential Workshop - APRIL 2024

(Short video from Butoh Residential Workshop 2019@ Arisaig)

Butoh・Tea/Ritual ・ Spirituality
舞踏・お茶/儀式・スピリット

Over four days, Yumi will introduce participants to various movement skills and methods of Butoh, Ritual and the choreographic aspects of the Japanese tea ceremony. Participants will also explore their internal and external creative expressions through Jujutsu呪術, a Japanese notion of Shamanism. 

The serene landscape will enable participants to delve deeper into their authentic "being" and cleanse their busy thoughts. Through shared meals and conversations, Yumi will guide participants in exploring their consciousness of well-being, from breathing and entering to silent walks and vocal expressions. This workshop offers an immersive experience into the intersection of movement, ritual and spirituality, inviting participants to reconnect with the mysteries of life and embrace a holistic humanity.

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WORKSHOP DETAILS

FACILITATORS
Yumi Umiumare

WHEN
Thur 11- Sun 14 April 2024
(arrive by 5pm on Thursday 11th, finishing late morning on Sunday 14th)

WHERE
339 Limestone Rd
Yandoit VIC 3461
Arisaig

COST
(All meals are included, Japanese style vegetarian)
Early Bird - by 29 Feb 2024
$650 Full / $580Concession

Standard
$690 Full / $620Concession

ACCOMMODATION
Participants will be camping (BYO Tent) amongst the beauty of the bush on this private land to allow for a deeper connection to Mother Earth. There are also airBnB available around the area.  

Terms & Conditions

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3-NIGHTS RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP: BUTOH, TEA/RITUAL & SPIRITUALITY

WHAT WE DO

Yumi is conducting 3-nights residential workshop introducing her mastery skills of body awareness through Butoh, her ongoing passion for ritual and ceremony through elements of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and her recent focus on exploring Jujutsu 呪術 - a Japanese notion of Shamanism.

This unique workshop series allows participants to explore the intersection of movement, ritual, and spirituality ⏤ fostering a deeper connection to the self, others, and the world around.

By integrating Butoh, the Japanese tea ceremony, and spiritual concepts like Jujutsu, participants will delve into:

• Embodiment and Presence: Immerse yourself fully in the moment, expressing raw emotions and experiences through Butoh while creating simple rituals to enter sacred spaces with mindfulness and intention.

• Symbolism and Ritual: Explore rich symbolism and ritualistic elements, discovering the philosophy of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and its essence of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility, abstracted through contemporary Butoh styles.

• Mysteries and Magic: Delve into the mysteries of Jujutsu, where everyday life intersects with the sacred and the profane, exploring the spiritual link between the visible and invisible worlds.

• Transformation and Self-Expression: Experience catharsis through movement, ritual and spiritual exploration, uncovering deep emotions and releasing tension.

Reconnecting these powers into the arts is essential for Yumi’s creative practice, and this is a great opportunity for participants to share in that process.

This workshop is open to participants of all levels of experience and artistic discipline. 

PLANNED SCHEDULE
(subject to be changed)

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THURSDAY 11 APRIL
Arrive by 5pm, settle in, set up tent etc.
Dinner 
Session #1 (Gathering) 

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FRIDAY12 APRIL
Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast
Session# 2
Lunch 
Session# 3
Dinner
Session #4 (Gathering) 

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SATURDAY 13 APRIL
Silent walk and exercise
Breakfast
Session# 5
Lunch 
Session# 6
Dinner
Performance (OPTIONAL)

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SUNDAY 14 APRIL
Breakfast
Gathering, debrief and packing

10:30am Departure

THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINARY.
A LIMITED NUMBER IS AVAILABLE!

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A special choreography for the Tenri University Creative Dance's annual performance

19th Annual performance by Tenri University, Nara, Japan @ Nara Century Hall, 17 Dec 2023

Yumi is invited as a guest choreographer to create a short work for the Creative Dance Club in Tenri University, Nara, Japan. The title: ”結” Connecting our Feeling ”

This is their 19th annual event for the Creative Dance Club in the Tenri university, who has been winning several dance awards in the Japanese university competitions.

17(Sun) Dec 2023

Venue：Nara Century Hall (Main Hall) なら１００年会館 大ホール

Open ：17 :30

Start: 18: 00

Buried TeaBowl-OKUNI tours to OzAsia Festival 28, 29 Oct 2023

A Proustian, unruly one-woman show, a work of pleasure and bite. — The Saturday Paper

Buried TeaBowl – OKUNI is an intimate and epic solo performance piece. It is a fusion of dance, text, and song, underscored by dynamic visual elements, a compelling original musical score, and of course – a tea ceremony. 

Drawing inspiration from the historical Japanese female entertainer, Izumo no Okuni, initiator of Kabuki theatre in early 1600s Japan, Buried TeaBowl – OKUNI is a visceral adventure – a transcendent feast for the senses. 

At the height of her creative prowess, Yumi Umiumare, Australia’s leading Butoh artist, unearths precious sacred female powers all too often buried throughout history. Yumi’s channelling of the multifaceted Okuni (who was so powerful, yet fragile and complex) culminates in a powerhouse solo performance that refuses to be defined by genre. Furious, funny, wistful, strange, and wild. Buried TeaBowl – OKUNI will carry you on a bizarre, unruly and heartfelt journey as only Yumi Umiumare can.

DETAIL AND BOOKING

CREATIVE TEAM

Created and Performed : Yumi Umiumare
Cinematographer/ Editor : Takeshi Kondo
Composer/ Sound Designer : Dan West
Lighting designer: Emma Lockhart-Wilson 
Dramaturg/ Maude Davey
Provocateur : Moira Finucane
Producer : Kath Papas productions 
Stage Manager: Celina Mack

Photographer: Vikk Shayen

Photo by Vikk Shayen

Buried TeaBowl- OKUNI: Ready for Tour!

“...the traditional Japanese tea ceremony a 21st century feminist spin. ... a Proustian, unruly one woman show, a work of pleasure and bite.”

— The Saturday Paper

“…so strange and grotesque, it almost defies description”

— The Age

“dense and visceral at the same time.”

— Australian Stage

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INSTALLATION - PERFORMANCE - TEA

ABOUT

Buried TeaBowl -OKUNI is an intimate and epic solo performance installation bringing together dance, text, song and tea ceremony with stunning film captured in 2021 during the lockdown.The work is inspired by the Japanese historical female dancer and shrine made Okuni, who initiated Kabuki theatre in the early 1600s, which women were banned from performing after these times.

At the height of her powers, Yumi Umiumare, Melbourne performance legend and Australia’s leading Butoh artist, unearths precious sacred female power which has been buried throughout history.Yumi channels the multifaceted character of Okuni who was so powerful, yet fragile and complex, to reawaken her spirit through excavating  these buried stories and myths.

CREATIVE TEAM

Created and Performed : Yumi Umiumare
Cinematographer/ Editor : Takeshi Kondo
Composer/ Sound Designer : Dan West
Lighting designer: Emma Lockhart-Wilson 
Dramaturg/ Maude Davey
Provocateur : Moira Finucane
Producer : Kath Papas productions 

Photographer: Vikk Shayen
Graphic design : Mariko Naito & Taka Takiguchi
Calligraphy: Hisako Tsuchiya
Publicity : Diana Wolfe

PHOTO CREDITS

Vikk Shayen (Above)
Takeshi Kondo (Below)

The show was premiered at the BlackCat Gallery in May 2022.

SUPPORT & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS for the premiere season
The premiere season was supported by the Besen Family Foundation and BLACKCAT Gallery.

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