IN-VOCATION たまおこしResidential Workshop
30March-3 April 2023
@Raven’s Nest -Venus Bay, South Gippsland
Butoh, Drama, Voice with SPIRITS!!
with Special International Guest Artists from JAPAN!
Kayo Tamura and Kyoko Amara
IN-VOCATION たまおこし
RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP
by Yumi Umiumare with Kayo Tamura, Kyoko Amara from Japan
Butoh, Text and Voice from your ‘deeper source’
This is unique residential workshop, exploring movement, text and voice, through 呪術 Jujutsu, Japanese notion of shamanism, translated as ‘Magic’ at the stunning beach location in Venus Bay, Gippsland.
Melbourne based performance artist Yumi Umiumare is facilitating the workshop, with her international collaborators from Japan, Kayo Tamura (A shaman in theatre!) and Kyoko Amara (professional clairvoyant/singer). The intention of the event is to open up new possibilities of interweaving between arts, nature and spirituality.
Over the 5 days, this ‘magic triangle’ of three artists, will introduce various exercises to guide the participants to open their ‘creative portal’ in order to;
Access your inner, deep sources of creativity
Extract individual and authentic expressions
Find ways of expressing with movement, word, voice and sound
The exercises includes;
Movement : ‘what comes from within’ from Butoh method (Yumi)
Text: ‘Authentic self-portrait series’ from drama technique (Kayo)
Guided meditation to find out own ‘power animal’ from shamanism method (Kyoko)
The stillness and wildness of the landscape enables us to explore our deeper and authentic "being" and helps to cleanse our busy thoughts. Through sharing food and gentle conversation, these powerful female artists will lead participants to explore their consciousness of well-being, essence of ‘personal ritual’ from breathing, walking, moving, and occasional screaming and laughter.
2 hours from Melbourne, the Raven’s Nest retreat space is located in Venus Bay on 14 acres of waterfront, forested sanctuary in South Gippsland. The 2 storey house has sunrise to sunset views, large yurt, massive deck spaces, outdoor dance floors and camping areas, private walking tracks & national park access.
Tama Okoshi: たまおこし
Tama means soul, Okoshi means upheaval or awaken
THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINARY.
A LIMITED NUMBER IS AVAILABLE!
Enquiry
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL GUEST ARTISTS
Kayo Tamura is an accomplished performance artist who fearlessly blazes her own trail with a strong background in theory, performance, writing, and directing. Kayo is a founder and artistic director of the GUMBO Theatre Group in Osaka since 1994. The company has performed in Edinburgh, Australia, Asia and North America and has won numerous awards. In 2022, they successfully completed a six-month tour of North America and won seven awards. Kayo is a Hong Kong Fringe Club Honorary Member (2015–), Asian Youth Theatre Festival Japan Team Advisor (2018–), Kamikoma Cats Artistic Director (2017–), Sakai International Community Arts Artistic Director (2019–).
Kyoko Amara loves the scent of the soul. She is a “channeller” or clairvoyant in Japan who has held sessions with over 9000 people. Over 20 years, she has been working as a singer with shamanistic drumming. Her main work is to spiritually convey the roots of people’s souls. She has also been engaged in art and shamanistic activities through Butoh performance, painting female genitals, holding workshops for feminine liberation and ceremonies. In 2017, Kyoko moved from Tokyo to the foot of Mt. Hayachine in northern Japan to organise events in a 100-year-old folk house, "Ihatov Mountain and Water Sunshade”.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
FACILITATORS
Yumi Umiumare (Movement)
Kayo Tamura (Drama)
Kyoko Amara (Voice)
WHEN
Thu 30 March - Mon 3 April 2023
WHERE
Raven’s Nest
Venus Bay, South Gippsland
COST
Early Bird - $650 Full/ $550Concession
Standard - $690Full / $590Concession
(All meals are included, Japanese vegetarian)
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 rooms available in the house, for those wishing more comfort. Beds are limited so book your spot now!
PLANNED SCHEDULE - (SUBJECT TO BE CHANGED)
Thursday 30 March
By 5pm Arriving, settle in, setting up tent etc
6:30pm Dinner
8pm Session 1 (Gathering)
Friday 31 March
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 2
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 3
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm Session 4 (Gathering)
Saturday 1 April
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 5
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 6
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm Session 7 (Gathering)
Sunday 2 April
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 8
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 9
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm performance preparation
9pm Performance
Monday 3 April
Breakfast 8am
Gathering, debrief and packing
10:30 am Departure
PHOTOS FROM LAST WORKSHOP (DEC 2022)
IN-VOCATION たまおこし Performance in FRAME: biennial dance festival
Performed at FRAME in 2023 at Dancehouse
Performed by Yumi Umiumare, Kayo Tamura and Kyoko Amara
Installation by Jacqui Stockdale
Sound by Ai Yamamoto
Punk, playful, and exuberant, this is an intimately epic and profanely sacred ritual.
When: 21 (Tue) March 7pm and 28(Tue) March 7pm and 9pm ( 3 shows ONLY )
Where: Dancehouse 150 Princes St Carlton North, Victoria
BOOKING
Entangling old world Kabuki mystique with volumetric 3D video, “IN-VOCATION たまおこし” summons the sacred power of female archetypes and deities.
In collaboration with a clairvoyant from Japan, local artists, and an international guest performer, Yumi Umiumare opens a Jujutsu 呪術 (Magic) portal to discover the colourful characters of OKUNI — an initiator of Kabuki Japanese theatre.
Evolving out of Yumi’s solo work, “Buried TeaBowl – OKUNI”, the team of mystics return to prod their collective memories and discover the many essences of the divine feminine.
Punk, playful, and exuberant, this is an intimately epic and profanely sacred ritual that incites an audience revolt of the spirit.
CREDIT
Choreographer: Yumi Umiumare
Performers: Yumi Umiumare, Kayo Tamura (Theatre Group Gumbo, Osaka), Kyoko Amara (Taiyosha, Iwate)
Visual Artist: Jacqui Stockdale
Sound Designer: Ai Yamamoto
3D Video: EMD Studio, Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology.
Original score from “Buried TeaBowl – Okuni”: Dan West
Original video from “Buried TeaBowl – Okuni”: Takeshi Kondo
Image credits: “IN-VOCATION たまおこし” (2023), Yumi Umiumare. Photo by Vikk Shayen.
IN-VOCATION たまおこしWorkshop Series : Butoh, Drama, Voice with Spirits.
3 special workshop from 18 March- 3 April 2023
This is unique workshop series , exploring movement, text and voice, through 呪術 Jujutsu, Japanese notion of shamanism, translated as ‘Magic’. Yumi Umiumare is facilitating 3 workshop, with international guest artists from Japan, Kayo Tamura (a queen of comedy/shaman in theatre) and Kyoko Amara (clairvoyant/earth voice singer).
ABOUT
This is unique workshop series , exploring movement, text and voice, through 呪術 Jujutsu, Japanese notion of shamanism, translated as ‘Magic’.Melbourne-based Butoh dancer/choreographer Yumi Umiumare is facilitating 3 workshop, with international guest artists from Japan, Kayo Tamura (a queen of comedy/shaman in theatre) and Kyoko Amara (clairvoyant/earth voice singer). This ‘magic triangle’ will introduce various exercises to guide the participants to open their ‘creative portal 'thus becoming a ‘medium’ for their own expression.
The intention of the event is to open up our new possibilities of interweaving between arts, space, human, nature and spirituality.
たまおこし（Tama Okoshi）: Tama means soul, Okoshi means upheaval or awaken.
Please contact us directly if you want to participate in ALL and make special financial arrangements.
All workshops are open to all, those with and without dance or theatre experience.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL GUEST ARTISTS
Kayo Tamura is an accomplished performance artist who fearlessly blazes her own trail with a strong background in theory, performance, writing, and directing. Kayo is a founder and artistic director of the GUMBO Theatre Group in Osaka since 1994. The company has performed in Edinburgh, Australia, Asia and North America and has won numerous awards. In 2022, they successfully completed a six-month tour of North America and won seven awards. Kayo is a Hong Kong Fringe Club Honorary Member (2015–), Asian Youth Theatre Festival Japan Team Advisor (2018–), Kamikoma Cats Artistic Director (2017–), Sakai International Community Arts Artistic Director (2019–).
Kyoko Amara loves the scent of the soul. She is a “channeller” or clairvoyant in Japan who has held sessions with over 9000 people. Over 20 years, she has been working as a singer with shamanistic drumming. Her main work is to spiritually convey the roots of people’s souls. She has also been engaged in art and shamanistic activities through Butoh performance, painting female genitals, holding workshops for feminine liberation and ceremonies. In 2017, Kyoko moved from Tokyo to the foot of Mt. Hayachine in northern Japan to organise events in a 100-year-old folk house, "Ihatov Mountain and Water Sunshade”.
Workshops OVErVIEWS
WORKSHOP #1 - SPACE 場所
Butoh, Voice and Drama 1 day workshop
19(Sun) March @ 10-4pm
At Dancehouse
$120/$80
WORKSHOP #2 - PEOPLE 人
Butoh and Beyond : Weekend Performance Making Laboratory
25 (Sat) March 26(Sun) @10-4pm
At Abbotsford Convent
$220/$200
WORKSHOP #3 - NATURE 自然
Special Residential Workshop
30(Thur)March- 3 (Mon) April
At Raven’s Nest, Venus Bay
$650/$550 (early bird) $ 690/$590
Booking
WORKSHOP #1 - SPACE 場所
BUTOH, VOICE and DRAMA 1 DAY WORKSHOP
This is an 1 day workshop, introducing the three artists’ core creative methods, exploring movement, text and voice, through 呪術 Jujutsu, Japanese notion of shamanism, translated as ‘Magic’.
The workshops includes,
Physical exercise through Butoh and creative movement
Guided work for story telling and text
Guided meditation for accessing inner guid and ‘power animal’
Translated by Yumi Umiumare(English / Japanese)
Special Guest: Hisako Tsuchiya (Calligrapher/Yumi's mother from Japan)
Workshop Details
FACILITATORS
Yumi Umiumare (Movement)
Kayo Tamura (Drama)
Kyoko Amara (Voice)
WHEN
19(Sun) March 2023
@ 10-4pm
WHERE
Dancehouse
150 Princes Street
Carlton North VIC
WORKSHOP #2 - PEOPLE 人
Butoh and Beyond : Weekend Performance Making Laboratory
So you don’t think you can dance?
Or you don’t think you can sing or act?
The ‘magic triangle’ from Japan offers a creative solution through Butoh and Beyond!
Over the weekend, the three artists will introduce their creative methods, through various exercises of Butoh, voice, drama and unique styles of performance making. They will guide the participants to open their ‘creative portal’ thus becoming a ‘medium’ for their own expression. In Japanese, the character of ‘actor’ is written as ‘俳優’ which literally means ‘non-human excellence'. We can all experience this extraordinary state of excellence bordering on the 'non-human' through moving, singing, acting and just being our natural selves.
If you are interested in exploring these magical realms, please join this workshop.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
FACILITATORS
Yumi Umiumare (Movement)
Kayo Tamura (Drama)
Kyoko Amara (Voice)
WHEN
25 (Sat) & 26(Sun) March 2023
@10-4pm
WHERE
ABBOTSFORD CONVENT
1 St Heliers Street
Abbotsford Convent VIC
WORKSHOP #3 - NATURE 自然
Special Residential Workshop
This is unique residential workshop, exploring movement, text and voice, through 呪術 Jujutsu, Japanese notion of shamanism, translated as ‘Magic’ at the stunning beach location in Venus Bay, Gippsland.
Melbourne based performance artist Yumi Umiumare is facilitating the workshop, with her international collaborators from Japan, Kayo Tamura (A shaman in theatre!) and Kyoko Amara (professional clairvoyant/singer). The intention of the event is to open up new possibilities of interweaving between arts, nature and spirituality.
Over the 5 days, this ‘magic triangle’ of three artists, will introduce various exercises to guide the participants to open their ‘creative portal’ in order to;
Access your inner, deep sources of creativity
Extract individual and authentic expressions
Find ways of expressing with movement, word, voice and sound
The exercises includes;
Movement : ‘what comes from within’ from Butoh method (Yumi)
Text: ‘Authentic self-portrait series’ from drama technique (Kayo)
Guided meditation to find out own ‘power animal’ from shamanism method (Kyoko)
The stillness and wildness of the landscape enable us to explore our deeper and authentic "being" and helps to cleanse our busy thoughts. Through sharing food and gentle conversation, these powerful female artists will lead participants to explore their consciousness of well-being, the essence of ‘personal ritual’ from breathing, walking, moving, and occasional screaming and laughter.
2 hours from Melbourne, the Raven’s Nest retreat space is located in Venus Bay on 14 acres of waterfront, forested sanctuary in South Gippsland. The 2 storey house has sunrise to sunset views, large yurt, massive deck spaces, outdoor dance floors and camping areas, private walking tracks & national park access.
THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINARY.
A LIMITED NUMBER IS AVAILABLE!
Enquiry
PHOTOS FROM LAST WORKSHOP (DEC 2022)WORKSHOP DETAILS
FACILITATORS
Yumi Umiumare (Movement)
Kayo Tamura (Drama)
Kyoko Amara (Voice)
WHEN
Thu 30 March - Mon 3 April 2023
WHERE
Raven’s Nest
Venus Bay, South Gippsland
COST
Early Bird - $650 Full/ $550Concession
Standard - $690Full / $590Concession
(All meals are included, Japanese vegetarian)
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 rooms available in the house, for those wishing more comfort. Beds are limited so book your spot now!
PLANNED SCHEDULE - (subject to be changed)
Thursday 30 March
By 5pm Arriving, settle in, setting up tent etc
6:30pm Dinner
8pm Session 1 (Gathering)
Friday 31 March
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 2
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 3
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm Session 4 (Gathering)
Saturday 1 April
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 5
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 6
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm Session 7 (Gathering)
Sunday 2 April
6:30 am Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast 8am
10-1pm Session 8
Lunch 1:15pm
3-6pm Session 9
Dinner 6:30 pm
8pm performance preparation
9pm Performance
Monday 3 April
Breakfast 8am
Gathering, debrief and packing
10:30 am Departure
Cancellation Policy and Procedures
Once payment has been received via Trybooking, any cancellations must be made in writing to here.
1) Cancellations made in writing 4 weeks prior to the commencement of a Workshop will receive a 100% refund with the deduction of the Trybooking handling fee.
2) Cancellations made in writing 2 weeks prior to the commencement of a Workshop will receive a 50% refund.
3) Cancellations made less than 2 weeks before the commencement of Workshop or no-show will receive no refund.
4) There is no full/partial refund when/where the Participant does not appear at any day of the Workshop due to their own personal reasons outside Teachers(Yumi Umiumare, Kayo Tamura and Kyoko Amara)’s control including but not limited to illness; illness of any person accompanying you to the event, or other person for whom you need to care; transport failure or delay; or where you choose not to attend the event.
Butoh Residential Workshop 9 (Fri) - 12 (Mon) Dec 2022
Butoh Residential Workshop
9 (Fri)-12 (Mon) December 2022
@Raven’s Nest -Venus Bay, South Gippsland (2 hours from Melbourne)
Butoh, Ritual, Spiril
9 (Fri)-12(Mon) Dec 2022
At Raven’s Nest, Venus Bay, South Gippsland
Butoh, Ritual, Spirit
This popular Butoh residential workshop is moving to the new stunning beach location in Venus Bay.
2 hours from Melbourne , the Raven’s Nest is located in Venus Bay, 14 Acres of Water Front, Forested Sanctuary in South Gippsland. There are 2 Storey, 4 Bedroom House with Sunrise to Sunset Views, Yurt, Massive Deck Spaces, Outdoor Dance Floors and camping Areas, Private Walking Tracks & National Park access,
Over the 4 days, Yumi will introduce various skills and methods of Butoh, channeling our internal and external creative expression. The stillness and wildness of the landscape enables us to explore our deeper and authentic "being" and helps to cleanse our busy thoughts. Through sharing food and gentle conversation, Yumi will lead participants to explore their consciousness of well-being, essence of ‘personal ritual’ from breathing, walking, moving, and occasional screaming and laughter.
Butoh舞踏,originally called Ankoku Butoh (Dance of Darkness), was conceived in Japan during the late 50’s and early 60’s during the social turmoil after the war and sought to find an expression through dance. Rather than aspiring to an aesthetic ideal, the dance attempts to expose the joys and sorrows of life, exploring the most fundamental elements of physical and psychological existence. Yumi is renown for combining Butoh (the darkness) with lightness and a sense of humour to embrace a wholistic humanity.
Details:
Where: Raven’s Nest in Venus Bay.(2 hours from Melbourne)
When: 9(Fri)-12(Mon) December 2022
Cost : $390/$420 (Early Bird ) $420/$490
(Vegetarian meals are included)
Accommodation: Participants will be camping amongst the beauty of the bush to allow for a deeper connection to Mother Earth.
Additional options for beds available on request, during the booking process.
THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINARY.
A LIMITED NUMBER IS AVAILABLE!
PLANNED SCHEDULE
(subject to be changed)
FRIDAY 9 DEC
By 5pm Arriving, setting up tent, and settle in
6:30pm Dinner
8pm Session 1 (Gathering)
SATURDAY 10 DEC
6:30 am Silent Walk and Exercise
Breakfast
10-1pm Session2
Lunch
3-6pm Session 3
Dinner
8pm Session 4 (Gathering)
SUNDAY 8 DEC
6:30 am Silent Walk and Exercise
Breakfast
10-1pm Session5
Lunch
3-6pm Session 6
Dinner
8pm~ Performance preparation and Performance
MONDAY 9 DEC
Breakfast
Gathering, debrief and packing
10:30am Departure
Photo of the Raven’s Nest
Buried TeaBowl- OKUNI
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 shaman Okuni, who initiated Kabuki theatre in the early 1600s, which women were banned from performing after these times.
INSTALLATION - PERFORMANCE - TEA
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 shaman 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
Calligraphy: Hisako Tsuchiya
Publicity : Diana Wolfe
The show was premiered at the BlackCat Gallery in May 2022.
Date/Time:
Thu 5 May 8:30pm – Preview
Fri 6 May 8pm – Opening
Sat 7 May 8pm
Sun 8 May 6pm
Wed 11 May 8pm
Thu 12 May 8pm
Fri 13 May 8pm
Sat 14 May 8pm
Sun 15 May 6pm
Duration: 80 mins
Tickets:
Full: $35 / Con: $25
Superiori-TEA: $50 incl. drink on arrival
Address:
BlackCat Gallery
420 Brunswick St
Fitzroy 3065
Vic Australia
PHOTO CREDITS
Vikk Shayen (Above)
Takeshi Kondo (Below)
SUPPORT & AKCNOWLEDGEMENTS
This season is supported by the Besen Family Foundation and BLACKCAT Gallery.
Jujutsu 呪術 Project
Jujutsu Project is a research project by Yumi Umiumare, exploring Jujutsu, the Japanese notion of shamanism. Yumi works with three artists and five specialists, including a first nations artist, a celebrant, scientists, a veterinarian/animal communicator and artists from diverse backgrounds in Australia, Japan & USA via online and live meetings.
Photo by Mathew Lynn, Vikk Shayen, Jodie Hutchinson | Graphic Design by Takashi Takiguchi
Jujutsu Project is a research Project, exploring Jujutsu
（呪術)
the Japanese notion of shamanism.
On-going research project about Jujutsu呪術: Japanese notion of Shamanism. Since 2021, Yumi has worked 5 specialists and 3 artists, including a first nations artist, scientists, veterinarian/animal communicator, clairvoyant, celebrant and artists from diverse backgrounds in Australia, Japan, Denmark and USA. Now it is in the process of making creative laboratory, which would be creating as a new performance work.
Yumi states;
“This project was inspired by Taro Okamoto's words, "Art is JuJutsu呪術 (magic)!” Having lived and practiced as an artist for more than 30 years, these famous word came to my awareness again because of the desire to recapture that "magical power" as the basis of art. During COVID-19, we frequently face ‘invisible’ fears and anxieties, this leads to the urgent question for artists ‘how should we act?’ Instead, how can we dance with the ‘invisible’ positive power of Jujutsu, through the analogy of our senses, ritual, quantum physics and inexplicable phenomena. I believe that making full use of our five senses and training our six senses, would be a one of the processes of reviving art with the magical power of Jujutsu”.
The interviews and collaboration were taken place via online and live meetings, explored the notion of ‘magic’ ‘spontaneity’ ‘inexplicable’ ‘invisible’ and connections between arts and Jujutsu. Yumi has also participated the online residency between Denmark-US-Australia, in BIRACA, Denmark.
The activities were funded by Creative Victoria, Creators Fund.
Summary Of Research Works
The summary of her research works were as below:
-
Aug 2021
-
March-May 2022
Working with Adrian Pearce, professor/ scientist(Melbourne) and PhD students in Melbourne university
Working with Shia Tsuchiya, animal communicator/veterinarian(USA)
Working with Hideki Hamada, Jujutsu expertise/psychotherapist, (Japan)
-
Dec 2021- March 2022
Working with Caroline Higgins, celebrant(Melbourne)
Working with Kyoko Amara, clairvoyant/singer/ healer (Japan)
-
July 2022- Oct 2022
Yumi has worked with the 3 established art practitioners of their expertise, Dalisa Pigram(Broome), Tony Yap (Melbourne), and Moira Finucane (Melbourne).
-
Nov/Dec 2022
Yumi has collected 99 creative material and conducted ‘Show and tell “of those 99 materials and create a final ‘ceremony’ as 100th material of dancing, at Sol Gallery, Melbourne.
Yumi states;
“My aim of this research project was to refresh and re-inspire my creative practice through diverse perspectives; science, spirituality, rituals and other no-arts practices as well as to find actual creative methods.Through the research of the Jujutsu (translated as Magic) I was able to recapture these "magical powers" as the basis of art and started to understand some ways of finding a creative portal through arts practice.
It was extremely rich and fulfilling process for me to work with various spiritual expertises, scientists and artists, as well as to interview people in Broome, where Japanese aboriginal cultures meets. Sharing the topics about ‘magic’ and ‘invisible’ power were incredible inspiring and nurturing process for me both personally and professionally. My objective for this research was to take me into the new and unknown territories in order for me to extend my creativity in arts, spirituality and well-being all all kinds of levels. It was very satisfying process for me to fulfil my objectives and share the processes with participated artists and practitioners, exchanging our expertise and insights, especially after having long restrictions through COVID.
I was also able to share my conversations and processes with arts and non-arts communities. I’ve interviewed over 20 people from non-arts background, and conducted 3 public Zoom sessions with 3 Japanese experts, which attracted over 80 people from Japan, Australia and other countries.
As I planned, I’ve held a public show and tell of showing the 99 creative materials, and one live performance to complete the process of the 100 Supernatural Tales. It was at Sol Gallery in 16 Dec 2022.
The creative materials of spontaneous, inexplicable, invisible and art, involving stories, visual, movements were;
• 12 self edited video works( including 5 dance video)
• 5 interview excerpts videos
• 20 stories
• 10 sounds
• 10 artefacts
• 42 visual photos and poetry
• 1 final dance
The Past Session DATES/times with Specialists
2022
★SUN 30th Jan @11:00am-1:00 pm (GMT+11)
Series #3 Kyoko Amara : Chaneller/Singer
★June - Completed (without Open Zoom sessions)
Series #4 Caroline Higgins: Celebrant
★Oct- Completed (Internal Zoom sessions only)
Series #5 Melbourne university science students
2021
★Sun 5th Dec @10:30am-12pm (GMT+11)
Series #1:Shia Tsuchiya: Animal communicator
★SUN 19th Dec @10:30am-12pm (GMT+11)
Seires #2 HIDEKI Hamada: Jujutsu Specialist
BOOKING
Please book via TRY BOOKING Link
Japanese Specialists’ Profiles
Shia Tsuchiya- Animal Communicator (SEDONA, USA)
Born in Nagano, Japan, Shia currently lives in Sedna, after working in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Shia has been a veterinary specialist with more than 15 years of experience working in veterinary clinics in Japan and the United States. Taking advantage of the spiritual abilities since her childhood, Shia started to follow her teacher, Penelope Smith, a pioneer of animal communicators. Shia works also as a healer to support people not limited to animals, and lead them a better life through receiving energy from higher dimensions. Since 2010, she has been fascinated by the sacred place Sedna then moved there in 2014.In recent years, she has been qualified to manage pilgrimages to sacred places and ceremonies, especially from Native American organisations, and has also conducted hiking and ceremonies for healing and regeneration of people's bodies, spirits and souls.Currently Shia advocates ‘terra spiritualism’ that integrates a wide range of spirituals such as channeling, somatic, and coaching based on shamanism. She also educate and foster people for their healing, integration, and regeneration of their bodies, minds, and spirits, as well as their skills.
Hideki Hamada - Jujutsu Specialist (OSAKA, JAPAN)
Born in Osaka in 1965, Hideki is a expertise of Jujutsu and shamanism in general. His shamanic qualities are found by Carol Proudfoot Edgar, a Native American Lakota Sioux medicine woman. In 1995, he went to the United States to study Native American mindset and formal ceremonies under Ms. Edgar. He is the only member of the Japanese Council of "Shamanic Circles", an organisation that supports the activities of shamanism around the world. He is also a psychotherapist and representative of Eagle Tribe to conduct workshops and training programs to be psychotherapist. Hideki works to make psychology useful in daily life, for participants to develop their effective interpersonal assistance skills.
Kyoko Amara
Kyoko likes the smell of the soul. Over 20 years, she has been working as a singer with shamanistic drumming and she describes ‘hearing as the voice suddenly began to come down’. Kyoko is also a ‘channeller’/clairvoyant in Japan, holding sessions with over 9000 people. Her main work is to spiritually convey the roots of people’s souls. She has been also engaged in art and shamanistic activities through Butoh performance, painting female genitals, holding workshops for feminine liberation and holding a power animal ceremony, which is a secret practice of the Native American people. In 2017, Kyoko moved from Tokyo to the foot of Mt. Hayachine in Iwate Prefecture, organising all kinds of events while renovating an 100-year-old folk house under the name of "Ihatov Mountain and Water Sunshade”.
Kyoko is renewing her website so her FB page is here.
This project is supported by Creative Victoria, Creators Fund 2021.
OnLine Butoh Unlocking our InnerBeast! #2
Yumi is running online Butoh sessions - Unlocking our InnerBeast! during Melbourne’s lockdown times in Aug and possibly extending to September 2021
Let us Release our inner-beast through Butoh!
Yumi is running 6 Butoh Sessions especially for people in the LOCKDOWN in Australia.
For our well-being, Yumi is introducing exercises of ;
>Grounding with gravity
>Energising through Chi (energy)
>Connecting own centre
>Opening up ‘new’ ways of moving
>Unblocking inner power
>Embracing our Inner Beast
and Release it!!
The details are as below.
Choose the dates through TRYBOOKING.
Pay as you can
You will get the Zoom link.
Find your own space for you to move and roll (wearing comfortable clothes)-check your dog or cat are not over excited around you.
Join the session
Enjoy!
Session times:
(MELBOURNE TIME GMT+10)
31 Aug | TUE | 6:00pm - 7:15pm
3 SEP | FRI | 10:30am - 11:45 am
7 SEP | TUE | 6:00pm - 7:15pm
10 SEP | FRI | 10:30am - 11:45 am
14 SEP | TUE | 6:00pm - 7:15pm
17 SEP | FRI | 10:30am - 11:45 am
Registration
In order to make classes safe and secure for everyone, a Zoom link will be sent to your email instead of having it publicly available.
PLEASE RESISTER 2HOURS BEFORE EACH SESSIONS.
PAY AS YOU CAN
This is open class/ workshop and you can pay in your own financial capacity.
Booking: TRYBOOKING.
Supported by ButohOUT! 2021
舞踏オープンクラス、火曜日の夜と金曜日の朝にあります。
上にある時間はメルボルン時間なので１時間早い時間が日本時間です。
上のリンクで予約をし、お金は払えるだけでお支払いください。
（火曜日：１７：００−１８：１５ 金曜日 ９：００−１０：１５）
Buried TeaBowl a new solo work in progress 2021
Yumi is creating a new solo work Buried TeaBowl, an interdisciplinary work with dance, text, song and poetry, inspired by Japanese female dancer/shaman, Okuni in 1600’s. The work in progress was completed in Aug 2021, and will be premiered in a live and digital performance in 2022.
photo by Vikk Shayen
Yumi's new solo work Buried TeaBowl, a work in progress, Aug 2021
Buried Tea Bowl is a new solo interdisciplinary work in development by Yumi Umiumare, bringing together dance, text, song and poetry with tea ceremony to create an intimate and epic work with both live and digital iterations.
Buried Tea Bowl channels the character of Okuni, a Japanese female shaman who initiated Kabuki during the Edo period (1600s). Kabuki comes from the word ‘Kabuku’, meaning bent or out of the ordinary, and was regarded as a subversive non-art form, passionately expressing ugliness and beauty. Later women were banned from performing Kabuki – the male performers who took over the art form can be seen as the first Japanese Drag Queens. Even though she was one of the most powerful female figures in theatre history, not many people know about Okuni, even in Japan.
Combining Yumi’s practice of Japanese tea ceremony, which flourished at the same period as Okuni was alive, she is choosing the ‘tea bowl’ as a creative metaphor of precious sacred female power which was buried under history.
Creative Team for Creative Development 2021
Created and Performed by Yumi Umiumare
In collaboration with
Cinematographer/ Editor : Takeshi Kondo
Composer/ Sound Designer : Dan West
Dramaturg : Maude Davey
Provocateur : Moira Finucane
Vocal Artist : Emma Bathgate
Shamisen Artist : Noriko Tadano
Photographer : Vikk Shayen
Producer : Kath Papas productions
This project has been assisted by
The Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body
City of Darebin, Cultural Infrastructure Grants
Abbotsford Convent Foundation, Pivot 2021
Wanna Be a Rabbit? by Weave Movement Theatre is now postponed till 2022
Wanna Be a Rabbit? the show by Weave Movement Theatre directed by Yumi Umiumare is postponed till 2022
A dynamic collaboration between Yumi Umiumare and Weave Movement Theatre. Highly visual physical theatre with a sense of the ridiculous.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the show is postponed till 2021.
Wannabe a Rabbit? is the outcome of the unique chemistry between Yumi Umiumare, international 'Butoh Cabaret' artist and Weave, a company of disabled and non-disabled performers.
Through Butoh-esque absurdity, highly visual physical theatre, text and startling installations, the work humorously reverses societal perceptions. It probes the human compulsion to categorise and judge. What are you? A wife, a worker, disabled, a refugee, black/white, an Aussie oi oi, a rabbit?
CREDITS
Director/Choreographer : Yumi Umiumare
Co-creator/Performers:
David Baker, Willow J Conway, Trevor Dunn, Janice Florence,
Zya Kane, Greg Muir, Emma Norton, Anthony Riddell, Takashi Takiguchi
Producer: Janice Florence (Artistic Director, Weave Movement Theatre)
Sound Designer : Dan West
Installation artist: Pimpisa Tinpalet
Costume designers: Joe Noonan & Brynna Lowen
Lighting designer: Rachel Lee
Videographer : Tan Kang Wei
Photographer: Vikk Shayen
Outside eye: Maude Davey
Photos (below) by Paul Dunn
ButohOUT! 2021 New Ab/Normal 2 Feb- 23 May 2021
BUTOH OUT! 2021NEW AB/NORMAL 新しい異常
2 Feb - 23 May 2021
The 5th iteration of ButohOUT!, a collection of events inspired by the dance theatre art-form of Butoh, explores the artistic theme New Ab/Normal during the post-pandemic era with the question: what is normal?
BUTOH OUT! 2021
NEW AB/NORMAL 新しい異常
2 Feb - 23 May 2021
The 5th iteration of ButohOUT!, a collection of events inspired by the dance theatre artform of Butoh, explores the artistic theme New Ab/Normal during the post-pandemic era with the question: what is normal? Originally called Dance of Darkness, Butoh has always been associated with the marginalised, embracing the abnormal, odd, quirky & the deviant. One of the first Butoh performances so shocked its Japanese audiences that it was forced to go underground, yet now it is accepted as an innovative art form. Conversely, what we used to think as ‘normal’ is no longer so. Instead, the term, 'new normal' exists, which contains the paradoxical nuance that an abnormality can become ‘normal’. We hang onto a semblance of normalcy like a security blanket - but why?
ButohOUT! 2021 offers 5 public workshops including one for children and seniors, a performance-making laboratory, a forum and 2 performance presentations, one at Dancehouse and Abbotsford Convent.
WORKSHOPS
@ Abbotsford Convent
★2(Tue)-23(Tue) Feb 2021
Weekly workshop
Is Butoh Abnormal?
★19(Fri)-21(Sun) March 2021
Weekend workshop
What is normal in Butoh?
★27(Sat) March 2021
Family and Kids workshop
Peek-A- Butoh
(FREE)
★27(Sat) March 2021
Senior workshop
You Don't Think You Can Dance?
| For 50+, 60+, 70+ or beyond
(FREE)
★ 24(Sat) 25 (Sun) April 2021
Weekend workshop with Butoh, Voice and Visual Arts
What is our New Ab/Normal?
PERFORMANCE
★25-28 March 2021
Colour-Fool (4 shows only!!)
@Dancehouse
Detail
★20-23 May 2021
Odd Hours (4 shows only!!)
@Abbortsford Convent
Detail
About
ButohOUT! Festival is An Artists-led, inclusive festival that breaks expectations and boundaries. It invites diverse arts and non-arts communities to engage with the profound internationally-acclaimed art form of Butoh. ButohOUT! also engages with international Butoh dancers to interact with local Australian practitioners from new initiates to established performers in an open exchange of expertise and performance.
Creative team of ButohOUT! 2021
Director & Choreographer: Yumi Umiumare
Producer: Takashi Takiguchi
Emma Bathgate(Voice)
Jacqui Stockdale(Visual arts)
Dan West and Ai Yamamoto (Sound)
Rachel Lee(Lighting)
Monika Benova(Graphic Design)
Performers:
Kiki Ando, Emma Bathgate, David Blom, Jessie Ngaio, Pauline Sherlock, Tomoko Yamasaki, Takashi Takiguchi, Yumi Umiumare and ButohOUT! Ensemble
Weekend intensive workshops for professionals, non professionals, kid& family and senior in March/April 2021@ Abbotsford Convent
★19(Fri)-21(Sun) March : Weekend workshop
★27(Sat) March : Family, Kids and Senior workshop
★24(Sat)-25(Sun) April : Weekend workshop with Butoh, Voice and Visual Arts
Collage elements by Jacqui Stockdale, Graphic design by Monica Benova, Photo by Mathew Lynn.
ButohOUT! 2021 New Ab/Nomral
Workshop Series are happening in Melbourne at Abbotsford Convent in March and April 2021.
★19(Fri)-21(Sun) March 2021
Weekend workshop : What is Normal in Butoh?
Detail
★27(Sat) March 2021
Family and Kids workshop: Peek-A- Butoh (FREE)
Detail
★27(Sat) March 2021
Workshop for For 50+, 60+, 70+ or beyond : You Don't Think You Can Dance? (FREE)
Detail
★24(Sat)-25(Sun) April 2021
Weekend workshop : What is our New Ab/Normal?
Detail
ButohOUT! 2020
Celebrating its third year, ButohOUT! 2020 offers five workshops and two performance seasons exploring the artistic theme of ‘Primal Colour.’ In earlier expressions of Butoh, dancers typically wore white body paint, believed to 'erase' the performers excessive and artificial layers to ‘de-identify’ them.
IN LIGHT OF RECENT UNFORSEEN EVENTS LINKING TO COVID-19, WE REGRET THAT THE 2020 BUTOHOUT! SEASON HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY AND SANITY. WE HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT US AS NEXT SEASON.
Unwoman by The Rabble 15–28 November 2019 @Substation
Yumi is performing in Unwoman by The Rabble
15–28 November 2019 @Substation
UNWOMAN is an epic and imagistic piece of feminist theatre created in both Ireland and Australia, examining reproductive rights, experiences of pregnancy and bodily autonomy.
UNWOMAN is an epic and imagistic piece of feminist theatre created in both Ireland and Australia, examining reproductive rights, experiences of pregnancy and bodily autonomy.
Made with THE RABBLE, professional performers and a community ensemble of pregnant performers, UNWOMAN is an invocation of the pregnant body as a plurality of experiences. It is visceral, carnal and an uncompromising piece of feminist theatre horrified by the history and laws attempting to curb bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
FEATURING / Dana Miltins, Mary Helen Sassman and Yumi Umiumare.
PHOTOGRAPHY / Hero image by Patricio Cassinoni. Production photography by David Paterson, featuring Olwen Fouéré in UNWOMAN Part III, Dublin Fringe, November 2018.
“PERVERSE, REAL, HARROWING AND DEEPLY AFFECTING, THIS IS A UNIVERSAL, UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPIECE OF PERFORMANCE ART. – THE TIMES UK”
Booking
Butoh Residential Workshop 6(Fri)-9(Mon) Dec 2019
Butoh Residential Workshop by Yumi Umiumare
Bringing ‘Light’ into Body and Spirit
6(Fri)-9(Mon) December 2019
@Arisaig-In the north of Daylesford(1.5hours from Melbourne)
Butoh Residential Workshop by Yumi Umiumare
Bringing ‘Light’ into Body and Spirit
6(Fri)-9(Mon) December 2019
In the north of Daylesford(1.5hours from Melbourne)
Our annual Butoh residential workshop is moving to the new stunning bush location of Arisaig!
A healing and wellness retreat, Arisaig is 100% off-grid and is located in the heart of Dja Dja Wurrung country on 100 acres of breathtakingly beautiful countryside only 20 minutes North of Daylesford and 20 minutes South of Castlemaine.
Over the 4 days, Yumi will introduce various skills and methods of Butoh, channeling our internal and external creative expression. The stillness and peace of the landscape enables us to explore our deeper and authentic "being" and helps to cleanse our busy thoughts. Through sharing food and gentle conversation, Yumi will lead participants to explore their consciousness of well-being, from breathing and silent walk to some vocal expression and laughter.
Butoh舞踏, originally called Ankoku Butoh 暗黒舞踏(Dance of Darkness), was conceived in Japan during the late 50’s and early 60’s during the social turmoil after the war and sought to find an expression through dance. Rather than aspiring to an aesthetic ideal, the dance attempts to expose the joys and sorrows of life, exploring the most fundamental elements of physical and psychological existence. Yumi is renown for combining Butoh (the darkness) with lightness and a sense of humour to embrace a wholistic humanity.
Where: Arisaig in Yandoit (1.5hours from Melbourne)
When: 6(Fri)-9(Mon) December 2019
Cost : $380/350(Vegetarian meals are included)
Accommodation: Participants will be camping amongst the beauty of the bush to allow for a deeper connection to Mother Earth. There are limited cabins available for at a higher rate for those wishing more comfort. Places are limited so book your spot now!"
THE WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND ARTISTIC DISCIPLINARY.
A LIMITED NUMBER IS AVAILABLE!
PLANNED SCHEDULE
(subject to be changed)
FRIDAY 6 DEC
By 5pm Arriving, settle in, setting up tent etc
Dinner
Session 1 (Gathering)
_________________________
SATURDAY 7 DEC
Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast
Session2
Lunch
Session 3
Dinner
Session 4 (Gathering)
____________________________
SUNDAY 8 DEC
Silent Walk and exercise
Breakfast
Session5
Lunch
Session 6
Dinner
Performance
_____________________________
MONDAY 9 DEC
Breakfast
Gathering, debrief and packing
10:30am Departure
Photo by Vikk Shayen
CuriosiTEA @ the OzAsia Festival2019
As a durational contemporary ritual, Yumi serves many bowls of CuriosiTEA to the general public, artists and tourists, to activate and provoke cultural encounters and personal interactions.
CuriosiTEA 26(Sat) Oct 2019
1-4pm @ Lucky Dumpling Market, Riverbank Lawns
As a durational contemporary ritual, Yumi serves many bowls of CuriosiTEA to the general public, artists and tourists, to activate and provoke cultural encounters and personal interactions.
Visitors are invited to absorb the simple rituals of tea ceremony in silence and share conversations and interactions in the open air. The deep sense of presence and silence initially afforded by the space will facilitate time to pause and reflect, counterbalancing noise and distraction to create a unique space through public interaction.
Butoh and Tea in Águeda, Portugal Sep 2019
Yumi is running workshop in Portugal and Poland, presenting her PopUp Tearoom Series in Agueda, Portugal 13 September and Warsaw. Poland 21 September 2019.
Butoh and Tea in Europe- workshop and performances
10-13 Sep 2019 Workshop and performance in Portugal
@Casa de cha parque municipal alta vila, Águeda
Hosted by AgitaLab LINK
Yumi has got an opportunity of the artist in residency at Casa de in the Alta Vila Park, Águeda, is one of the projects of the Association Improvise and Organize annually supported by the Municipality of Agueda.
The Residence was offered artists several creative spaces and presentation opportunities to an audience, in exchange for the participation in events involving the local community, such as workshops and open studio.
LiNK: ALTA VILA HOUSE PARK_IVV_TEA ROOM
Butoh Workshop in Bochum, Germany 28 Aug- 1Sep 2019
Yumi is running a Butoh workshop at Bochum, Germany, 28 Aug- 1 Sep 2019
Butoh for Puppeteers
28 (Wed) August to 1(Sun) September
10 am to 4 pm
Rottstraße 5, 44793 Bochum, Germany
Butoh for Puppeteers
Dates: Wednesday, 28th August to Sunday, 1st of September
10 am to 4 pm
Rottstraße 5, 44793 Bochum, Germany
240€ (200€ for students)
Facilitated by an acclaimed Japanese Australian Butoh dancer and choreographer Yumi Umiumare, this workshop will introduce various Butoh philosophies, including
在り方 Being-individual body presence
重力 Gravitating
感覚 Perceiving
空間 Spatial elements, both internal and external
ため Accumulations, Isolation and sensation
間（ま） 'Ma' sense of emptiness, Active blankness, Active pause
記憶 Memoryand Poetry
型/面 Form and Mask
摸写/反復 Copy and Repetition
想像/創造 Imagination to Creation
Yumi leads workshops to stimulate and uncover participants’ own unique and authentic movements, working through objects, images, narrative and abstraction. Unfolding the expression of ‘laughter’ in different contexts, participants have the opportunity to create sequences, emerging from their personal poetry and movements using narrative, metaphor and rituals.
The word for laughter in Japanese, warau 笑い comes from the verb wareru 割れる – to break, crack or split.
Unexpected Laughter can open up our daily corsage – and a ritual for a common transformation can start.
We are going to work in an industrial space, so please be prepared to protect your against cold.
Simple and delicious vegetarian/vegan foods are prepared for 6 € per day.
The class will be hold in English.
The workshop is open to all levels of experience.
About Yumi
Organised by Sara Hasenbrink
INTERNET: www.hasenbrink.org
TeL: 3232634
___________________________________________________
(in German)
utho für Puppenspieler mit YUMI UMUIMARE
Das japanische Wort für Lachen 笑い WARAU entstammt dem Verb wareru 割れる – übersetzt ins Deutsche: AUFBRECHEN AUFPLATZEN
An vier Tagen im August wird in der Zeit von 10 bis 16 Uhr in dern Rottstraßen Kunsthallen die eskalative Wirkung des Lachens und Körperdeformationen durch zeitgenössischen japanischen Tanz erprobt.
Nicht bloß die dunkle Seite des Butoh, sondern gerade die unerwartet helle und grelle wird uns beschäftigt halten.
Kommt und laßt es krachen!
Die Unterrichtssprache ist Englisch.
Wir werden in einem ehemaligen Industriegebäude arbeiten, es gibt zwar einen
Holzboden - warme Kleidung kann zuweilen dennoch von Nöten sein.
Es gibt die Möglichkeit ein einfaches vegetarisches oder veganes Mittagsessen gegen 6€ vor Ort zu bekommen. Falls das gewünscht wird, bitten wir, dies bei der Anmeldung direkt mitanzugeben.
Zeit: 28 August bis 01. September 2019 von 10 bis 16 Uhr (Pause von 12:30 bis 13:30)
Ort: Rottstraße 5, 44793 Bochum
Preise: 240€ Normalzahlende 200€ Studierende
About YUMI
(photo from PopUp Tearoom Series, photo by Jodie Hutchinson)
Butoh weekend workshop- Unleash the Unknown
When: 13 (Sat)14(Sun) July 2019@10am-5pm
Where: TRELOARLAND studio: 87a Albert street Brunswick
Over the weekend, Yumi will guide participants to explore their familiar and unfamiliar elements of physical and spatial expressions through the unique philosophy of Butoh and beyond. Participants are encourage to dive into their ‘unknown’ territories for embracing the joyful moments of ‘unleashing’
Photo by Lukas Penny, weekend workshop ButohOUT!2019
When: 13 (Sat) and 14(Sun) July 2019@10am-5pm
Where: TRELOARLAND studio: 87a Albert street Brunswick
Price: $200/180 (Special winter price!!)
Over the weekend, Yumi will guide participants to explore their familiar and unfamiliar elements of physical and spatial expressions through the unique philosophy of Butoh and beyond.
Participants are encourage to dive into their ‘unknown’ territories for embracing the joyful moments of ‘unleashing’
The focal points in this workshop are;
在り方（Arikata)：Body presence- suspension and gravity
間（Ma)：Spatial exploration- space in between and active pause
溜（Tame): Accumulation, Isolation, Sensation
笑（Warai): Laugh till something crack open
生け捕り(Ikedori)：Catching ‘live’ and ‘row’ moments
想像/創造(Souzou)：Inspiration->Imagination->Creation
The workshop is open to all levels of experience and artistic disciplinary.
A limited number is available!
Booking and Enquiry
ButohOUT!2019@Abbotsford Convent 12March- 12May 2019
ButohOUT! 2019 is a festival to celebrate creative communities in Australia and beyond through the profound performance art medium of Butoh. 4 public workshops and 2 weeks performance season are held at Abbotsford Convent.
ButouOUT!2019 @Abbotsford Convent
Forbidden Laughter
禁じられた笑い
Abbotsford Convent
12 March - 12 May 2019
LINK
“The action of laughing is like the breaking of the stiff mask of ego.
When we laugh, the authentic spirit jumps out from deep inside of us”
Keiichi Ueno
ButohOUT! is an annual festival celebrating creative communities and the profound performance art of Butoh. Originally called Dance of Darkness, Butoh was conceived in Japan in the late 1950s during the social turmoil after the Second World War. It goes beyond the confines of specific culture, gender, status and religion, aspiring to universal expression that touches the true nature of humanity.
ButohOUT! 2019 will challenge the commonly held conception of Butoh as dark and grotesque, and will ask: “Can the audience laugh at Butoh? Can we portray comedy in Butoh?” In the Japanese language the word for laughter warau 笑う comes from the verb wareru 割れる- to break, crack or split.
Exploring the theme, ‘Forbidden Laughter’, ButohOUT! 2019 will focus on surreal comedy. The Butoh will draw upon cabaret, bouffon, burlesque, physical theatre and visual art installation.
Open to experienced dancers, newcomers, children and families, the ButohOUT! program presents an exciting opportunity for participants and audiences to learn from expert practitioners and experience this unique performance arts form. Workshop participants have the opportunity to receive mentoring and present original solo and group works at the Convent during the public performance season in May.
Artistic director Yumi Umiumare
Producer Takashi Takiguchi
Dramaturg Maude Davey
Visual artist Pimpisa Tinpalit
Funded by Creative Victoria
Presented in partnership with Abbotsford Convent Foundation
Photography Vikk Shayen
WORKSHOPS
12 March - 16 April 2019
"Breaking the Dark Mask"
29 March - 31 March 2019
5 April - 7 April 2019
Convent Kids presents: Peek-A-Butoh
23 March 2019
2 - 12 May
Industrial School,
Abbotsford Convent
PopUp Tearoom Series @ Abbotsford Convent Open Spaces 2018
PopUp Tearoom Series at Abbotsford Convent' Open Spaces 2018
CuriosiTEA : Nov 17(Sat) 2 – 9pm & 18(Sun) 12 – 6pm @ Oratory, Sacred Heart building
'CuriosiTEA' Pop-up Tearoom at Abbotsford Convent' Open Spaces 2018
Nov 17(Sat) 2 – 9pm & 18(Sun) 12 – 6pm @ Oratory, Sacred Heart building
A fusion of Butoh, dance, performance and installation, with classical and contemporary Japanese tea ceremonies, audiences are invited to come and go, pause and reflect. As long ago as the 16th century, tearooms were created in war zones, with the tea ceremony functioning to relieve emotional stress and restore social order. Curious about what sort of ‘tea’ we can make today, Yumi invokes the Japanese notion of ‘ma’ or ‘active pause’ and serves you a bowl of 'curiosiTEA' with an element of surprise and provocation. Yumi is behind the dyanamic ButohOUT! Festival, held annually at the Convent and regularly performs and producers work onsite.
Dance Massive Site Responsive Showcase, presented by Abbotsford Convent and Ausdance Victoria as part of Dance Massive 2019.
Image: Anne Moffat