For ballet, the body begins its decline through a cascade of injuries for most in their early 20s. All the while emotional expressiveness is on the rise. So there is a small window where they are balanced at their combined maximum. Modern dance can be more tolerant of aging. Butoh, the slow, ultra-modern style from Japan, and originated by Hijikata at age 31, is one of the most celebrating of age, with performers into their early 90s and beyond. Eiko is 67.
Eiko Otake and Takashi Koma Otake began dancing together in their early 20’s in Japan. They are partners with a family and have only performed together for 38 years. They studied political science in college, and many of their works respond to environmental and social concerns we all share.
They are MacArthur Fellows, the first couple to receive that award.
New York City residents since 1976, they had a studio residency, an over 6000 square feet quarter floor, where they developed work and hosted performances in 1999 and 2000 in the World Trade Tower. Post the attacks, they adapted their work Offering to be performed for free throughout New York City parks.
In 2003 they brought Offering to Reed College, outdoors, and performed River in the Jamison Park fountain. It was a great privilege to work with them to stage the Portland events.
Eiko returns to Portland with work including some made in response to the TÅhoku earthquake tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
From September 5 to October 24 photos from her project A Body in Places are on display at PNCA. Free
Thursday September 5 Eiko performs at PNCA amidst the photos 6PM-8 Free
September 9 the film version of A Body in Fukushima is at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium. It ia a montage of stills of her Body in Fukushima with an original soundtrack. 7PM $10
Thursday September 12-Saturday September 14 Eiko performs Distance is Malleable, duets with Ishmael Huston-Jones, Mark Mccloughan, and Alexis Moh at 15 NE Hancock 8:30PM $20
