Butoh is a very modern dance form of sorts, originated in Japan, and unlike any other movement form you have seen. Usually improvised, it ranges from beautiful ritual performances by large international touring companies with a budget such as Dairakudakan and Sankai Juku to intimate living room performances. Of course you can do your own butoh anytime in the park or wherever you are so inspired. Especially true as many performers draw their improvisational inspiration from nature.
Butoh has experienced a diaspora from its origins in Japan. Seattle is one center as the result of butoh artist Joan Laage's work there. The late Doranne Crable worked in Olympia, influencing generations of Evergreen College artists. San Francisco is a center, anchored by the craziest sushi bar owner of the late Country Station Sushi, Koichi Tamano, an early collaborator in Japan with butoh's founder. Portland is also a center as a result of interchanges with San Francisco, Olympia and Seattle as well as an active workshop program at Portland State University.
Butoh artist Mizu Desierto, (water in Japanese+desert in Spanish), was once bitten by a rattlesnake in the Arizona desert. She survived, but it left an imprint. She has collaborated, studied and performed with Mexican butoh artist Diego Piñón, Kazuo and Yohsito Ohno and the Tamano's.
She presents for your pleasure, consideration and meditation Water in the Desert, a festival of art, ritual performance ecology and consciousness. In the day, musicians perform and there will be a variety of talks and workshops. In the evening, the river itself will become part of a performance, the performers lit by the full moon.
There is also a series of butoh workshops as part of the festival by visiting artists Syzygy Butoh (July 24 6-9) & Harupin-Ha Butoh Theatre (July 27 6-9), and an intensive with Harupin-Ha (July 28 3-7)at very reasonable prices. See the website for details.
At Cathedral Park, under the St Johns Bridge. Art, music, workshops 2-9PM. Performance 9-11PM Free
