Saturday 8 February 2025 (3-6pm)
Butoh is an immersive dance form originating from Japan, dubbed the ‘Dance of Darkness’ (Ankoku Butō) and also a ‘dance of the womb’.
These workshops offer a method of embodied psychological practice, designed for people seeking to explore the memories, dreams and possibilities hidden in their bodies. Dance as considered by Butoh artists is often very different from other dance forms: it is life dancing, the subconscious emerging through the flesh.
You’ll use gravity and fluid-awareness exercises to dissolve tension, and moving-meditation exercises which aim to increase your physical honesty and ability to listen to body energies. Then through improvising with surreal imagery you can begin to awaken the Imagination- body, unlocking movement which is less an ego-expression than the experience of being danced.
No prior experience is needed. This session is suitable for anyone interested in expanding their notion of what a human body can be, whether or not you consider yourself a dancer.
These workshops deeply respect the unique constitution of each human being, and how the differences in our bodies and life histories will lead to different dances in the room (you will rarely be dancing set choreographies or expected to perform ‘correctly’). Though Michael is not a therapist, they strive to take care of everyone's journey through the class and are on hand to discuss physical and emotional challenges. Please message in advance or grab a word with Michael at the beginning of class if you have particular concerns.
Workshop Cost £24
CONCESSION Workshop £19
If you are facing financial hardship, please email Michael via www.paulmichaelhenry.com. No-one will be turned away.
Our concession rate is offered to full time students, unwaged, seniors 66+ and under 18s.
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About Michael
Paul Michael Henry has studied Butoh dance with renowned teachers including Yoshito Ohno, Yukio Waguri, Kayo Mikami, Seisaku & Yuri, Tadashi Endo, Yumiko Yoshioka, Imre Thormann, Yuko Kaseki, Masaki Iwana and Gyohei Zaitsu. Originally a musician and writer, Michael has now been teaching and performing Butoh internationally for the last fifteen years. These workshops are their synthesis of these experiences and their own private research.