This advanced level intensive butoh course is designed for students, who have prior experience of making a work around a body, especially (yet not limited) in dance, theater and visual arts context. Inspired by butoh-based movement practice and eastern philosophies, students will seek a way of liberating a body from socially pre-conditioned self. While studying particular breath, somatic and movement practices, students will delve into and cultivate understanding on philosophical concepts, and corresponding physical and psychological modalities such as “ever-becoming” “body as an object” “state of absence.” Students will be asked to bring a body-based proposition in response to each philosophical theme that this course offers. Ultimately, each student is encouraged to question any pre-imposed conceptual frames that have been defining self, and search for alternate ways of being.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand key concepts of butoh
- Embody philosophical inquiry through physical practice and body-based work
- Be able to discover new perspective and approach to a body through a series of unorthodox movement practice, philosophical dialogues and the creation of original work
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
Permission of instructor is required. For inquiry and permission, please contact the instructor Mina Nishimura (mnishimura@bennington.edu) with a brief motivation statement and description about previous experience/training in dance, theater or any other body-based art forms.
Corequisites: Dance or Drama lab assignment if students sign up for 4 or more credits in designated dance courses.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
Tu 2:10PM - 5:50PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 16
Course Frequency: Once a year
Categories: 4000 , All courses , Dance , Day/Time Changes , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Updates
Tags: Butoh , dance , Japanese culture , movement practice , philosophy , physical theater , Zen and Buddhism