Lecture by Katsura Kan «The art of Japanese dark dance "butoh"»

The legend of Japanese butoh dance, performer and choreographer, as well as actor, director and musician Katsura Kan comes to Tbilisi!

A direct student of Tatsumi Hijikata, one of Butoh’s founding pioneers, Katsura Kan, will guide us through the evolution, philosophy, and techniques of this powerful Japanese dance.
Originating in the late 1950s as part of Japan's avant-garde art movement, Butoh emerged as a radical response to postwar upheaval. As part of Japan’s avant-garde, Butoh responded to cultural and political tensions, becoming a transformative exploration of death, and primal emotions, breaking with both Western and traditional Japanese dance forms.

Together with the master, in the lecture, we will be able to delve into the essence of avant-garde dance, its nature, and cultural roots and learn:

• how butoh emerged in Japan and became the “dance of darkness”
• why is butoh also called the dance of emptiness. The cultural and historical context of the movement
• about the personal journey of Katsura Kan: how he conveys his vision through his productions
• fragments of films about butoh and performances by Katsura Kan

Katsura Kan is a pioneering Butoh artist with over four decades of experience performing and teaching worldwide. As Hijikata’s direct student, he’s among the few artists who continue the authentic Butoh tradition while introducing modern influences. His performances often explore existential themes, using stillness and subtle motion to challenge perceptions of time, identity, and the body.

The lecture will be held in English.

Tickets – from 30 to 50 GEL.

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