Morning Butoh- A Practice of Renewing and Redefining Self (DAN2012.01)

Mina Nishimura

No previous experience in dance or movement practice is required. This course is open to and welcomes all students who are interested in liberating their bodies from socially pre-conditioned selves, and investigating the physical embodiment of transformation.

By studying some breath, somatic and movement practices that are linked to butoh, which originated in Japan as a contemporary avant-garde dance form, we aim to break pre-fixed images of our bodies and selves, and search for ways of constantly renewing and redefining sense of self. As early-morning is the most important and critical time of a day that helps determine how to spend and live that day, this course, utilizing meditation to writing to visualization to movement practices, also offers a mindful transition from a state of yin (asleep) to yan (awake).


Learning Outcomes:
Establish a healthy mind-body conditioning morning practice

Become aware of and actively engaged in the process of transition from an unconscious state to a conscious one

Find new and creative ways of renewing oneself through multiple body-based practices

Be able to apply principles of butoh to your own practice

Be able to take on philosophical inquires through somatic experience



Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Corequisites: Dance or Drama lab assignment if students sign up for 4 or more credits in dance.
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 1
Tu 8:30AM - 10:20AM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: One time only

Categories: 2000 , All courses , Dance , Fully In-Person , One Credit
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