This advanced level intensive 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 contexts. Inspired by butoh-based movement practice, Buddhism and French post-structuralism philosophies, students will seek a way of liberating a body from a socially pre-conditioned self.
While studying particular breath, somatic and movement practices sourced from butoh, students will delve into slippery philosophical concepts such as “pure becoming” “Body without Organs” “state of absence” and “outside-ness within self” through experiential and physical inquiry, paired with group discussions. Ultimately, each student is encouraged to question any pre-existing conceptual frames that have been defining self, and search for alternate ways of being.
Learning Outcomes:
-Understand key concepts, principles and historical context of butoh
-Gain new perspectives and approaches to dance and body-based art form
-Cultivate a new relationship with self through a series of unorthodox movement practices, philosophical dialogues and the creation of original body-based work
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
For inquiry and permission, please contact the instructor Mina Nishimura (mnishimura@bennington.edu) and Kota Yamazaki (kyamazaki@bennington.edu) with a brief motivation statement and description about previous experience/training in dance, theater or any kind of body-based form
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
W 8:30AM - 12:10PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 14
Course Frequency: Once a year
Categories: 4000 , All courses , Dance , Four Credit , Fully In-Person
Tags: Butoh , dance , Japanese culture , movement practice , philosophy , physical theater