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About Kazuo Ohno—Reliving the Butoh Diva’s Masterpieces

February 18, 2017
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Performance past event
RELATED PROGRAMS:

Blessed
Fri., Sept. 9, 7 PM
 
Portrait of Mr. O & two short films
Sun., Sept. 18. 1 PM
 
Body Sculpting Workshop with Takao Kawaguchi
Sun., Sept. 18, 3:30—6:30 PM
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

BUTOH REINTERPRETED
Honoring the 110th anniversary of Kazuo Ohno’s birth

Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 PM (Followed by a MetLife Meet-the-Artists Reception)—SOLD OUT.
Sat., Sept. 17, 7:30 PM. SOLD OUT.

"…a silky, versatile mover."
—The New York Times on Kawaguchi

Takao Kawaguchi, one of Japan’s most sought-after dancers and former member of Dumb Type, challenged himself to literally "copy" the dances of the late butoh master and co-founder Kazuo Ohno, from archival recordings. What results is a hauntingly beautiful illusory duet between Kawaguchi and Ohno. Presented just weeks before what would have been Ohno’s 110th birthday, About Kazuo Ohno attempts to reconstruct Ohno’s timeless masterpieces, including Admiring La Argentina (1977) and My Mother (1981), phrase by phrase. This work offers the opportunity to explore and question the portrayal of gender, specifically femininity, that appears within Ohno’s repertoire.

As a companion piece within this program highlighting the reinterpretation of butoh by non-butoh specific artists in the 21st century, New York’s Big Dance Theater presents Resplendent Shimmering Topaz Waterfall, a choreographic exploration of the notations of a work by another butoh legend, Tatsumi Hijikata.

Coinciding with this performance, to offer further context and exploration, an exhibition of materials from the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio in Yokohama, Japan and Japan Society’s archives including posters, video, costumes and other articles, will be displayed in Japan Society’s lobby from Thursday, September 15  through Sunday, September 18 at 5 PM. This exhibit is free and open to the public during Japan Society Box Office hours.

Tickets: $30 /$25 Japan Society members. General Admission.

Friday, September 16: SOLD OUT. A waitlist will begin one hour prior to the event. Being on the waitlist does not guarantee admission.
Saturday,  September 17: Sold out. A waitlist will begin one hour prior to the event. Being on the waitlist does not guarantee admission.

Box Office Policy

About Kazuo Ohno sneak preview

Takao Kawaguchi discusses Kazuo Ohno

About Kazuo Ohno is supported by The Japan Foundation Performing Arts JAPAN Program and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal year 2016. Support for the residency period during the About Kazuo Ohno North American Tour is provided by Mount Tremper Arts. Special thanks to the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio.
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MetLife Meet-the-Artists Reception support is provided by Metlife Foundation.
  • Saturday, February 18, 2017
  • 7:30 pm