Butoh is a somewhat obscure modern dance form based on improvisation and inspired by nature. That's the simple explanation. First created in Japan in 1959, it is an international style today, It has a special place on the US West Coast, and a special place in Seattle. The Japanese butoh group Sankai Juku was one of the first groups to perform in the United States, in 1984. They evolved out of the famous Dairakiudkan, but operate with a more quiet and subtle style. In 1985 in Seattle, one of the dancers tragically died in an outside performance. The group was to disband, but did not, resuming touring with Kinkan Shonen in 1978 in Seattle. With this history, there is a special intense relationship between the performers and audience in Seattle, you can easily feel it. Sankai Juku returns to Seattle with Tobari, tonight. At the Paramount, 911 Pine Street, Seattle. Tickets: www.stgpresents.org/artists/?artist=1319 7:30PM $20-75
The Seattle butoh wave continues with two nights of performances from Seattle Vancouver BC, Boulder and Portland. Friday evening Sheri Brown(SEA), Danse Perdue(SEA), Douglas Ridings(SEA) and Kokoro (Vancouver) perform. Saturday night Diana Garcia-Snyder, Momo Dance Company(SEA), Jyl Brewer, Haruko Nishimura(SEA), Joan Laage(SEA), Helen Thorsen, Sheri Brown & Sharoni Siegel (Boulder), and Mizu Desierto (Portland) perform. Tickets and details at www.daipanbutoh.com/events.html and www.brownpapertickets.com/event/134988. Performances at Velocity Dance Center, 1621 12th Avenue, Seattle 8PM $15-35 sliding scale
