Books
Many books, articles, and videos repeat the same information on the history of Butoh. I encourage everyone to check out books from their local library and determine which item will meet your needs before purchasing.
See my search tips section for more information.
Fraleigh, Sondra Horton. Dancing into Darkness: Butoh, Zen, and Japan. Pittsburgh, Pa: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1999.
... Dancing Identity: Metaphysics in Motion. Pittsburgh, Pa: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2004.
Hoffman, Ethan and Mark Holborn. Butoh: Dance of the Dark Soul. New York, N.Y.: Aperture, 1987.
Myers, Helen. "Piercing the mask of Japanese Dance Theater." The Dance Experience: Insights Into History, Culture, and Creativity. Ed. Myron Howard Nadel & Marc Raymond Strauss. Hightstown: Princeton Book Co., 2003. 39-54.
Viala, Jean. Butoh, shades of darkness. Tokyo: Tuttle Pub., 1988.
Photo by www.jeremytressler.com
Dance Company: Vangeline Theater
Articles
Articles were selected based on uniqueness of their contribution to the discussion of butoh, the description of individual style and/or technique by specific soloists or companies that may help researchers and other relevant information. This list of articles is not exhaustive, merely a starting point for researchers.
Photo by: www.jeremytressler.com
Dance Company: Vangeline Theater
Eckersall, Peter. "Putting the boot into butoh: cultural problematics of butoh in Australia." MAP Symposium
1998: 41-42.
Franko, Mark. "Where he danced: Cocteau's Barbette and Ohno's Water Lilies." MLA May, 1992. 594-607.
Examines cross-dressing male dance performances and the "male gaze."
Khaikin, Lital. "Butoh Dancing: Discovering Emptiness, Embodiment, & Environment in an Archaeology of Body."
Redefine, posted online October 9th, 2013.
Brief interviews with several contemporary Butoh artists.
Philp, Richard. "Out of darkness: Butoh, part 1." Dance Magazine Apr. 1986: 60-63.
Part one focuses on the history of butoh with primary focus on Kazuo Ohno and his work. Part two focuses
Sankai Juku.
Rotie, Marie-Gabrielle & Suzan Kozel. "The reorinetation of butoh (Parts one and two: Marie-Gabrielle Rotie
and Suzan Kozel consider how Wester dance has embraced butoh's potential for altered awareness.)"
Dance Theatre Journal 13.1 (1996): 34-35.
Slatter, Lizzie. "Kazuo Ohno & Butoh Dance." Dance Theare Journal 4.4 (1986): 6-10.
Lizzie Slater wrote several articles and critiques about butoh.
Schaik, Eva van. "The Mistrust of Life: Relations in Dance: Connections between butoh ausdruckstanz and
dance theatre in contemporary experimental dance." Ballet International 13.5 May. 1990:11-15.
Stein, Bonnie Sue. "Out of darkness: Butoh, part 2." Dance Magazine Apr. 1986: 64-68.
Part two focuses on Sankai Juku.
Tobias, Tobi. "Human Interest." New York Magazine 6 Dec. 1993: 108, 110.
... "Mystery Stories." New York Magazine 9 Nov. 1992: 81.
... "Strange Interludes." New York Magazine 2 Dec. 1996: 126-127.
Tobi Tobias's articles are reviews of company and individual butoh performances. "Human Interest" is
about Kazuo Ohno and his son Yoshito Ohno. "Myster Stories" is a review of Hakutobo of which Yoko
Ashikawa is the senior member and performer. Ashikawa worked with Ohno for 20 years. "Strange
Interludes" is about the company Sankai Juku. I've selected these three articles from Tobias because of
their description of Butoh, performances by influential dancers/choreographers, concepts, stage, props,
costume, movement and etc. that will assist researchers in defining butoh and understanding the
difference in styles.
Waring, Liz. "Butoh." http://www.sbc.edu/honors/HJSpr03/Waring.htm
Brief article on the history and development of Butoh. Liz Waring's credentials are not on the article
however she was a student in an honors program at Sweet Briar College when she wrote & posted the
article. It gives a nice synopsis of the history & development of butoh.
Videos
Ai-Amour: Carlotta Ikeda and her butoh
1994, 38 Minutes
Carlotta Ikeda is the director of the butoh performance group Compangie Ariadone in France. There is a small section in which she talks about technique, which is rarely discussed in butoh, and an explanation of the Japanese dance mind. Opens with a performance clip. Voice over in Japanese with English subtitles.
Musale, Kamal, Heinz Dill, Dwight Rodrick, Carlotta Ikeda, Ko Murobushi, Nourit Masson-Sékiné, Roger Baudet, and Osamu Gotō. 2006. Aï-Amour Carlotta Ikeda and her Butoh. Oregon, WI: D. Rosenberg.
Butoh: Body on the Edge of Crises
1990, 86 minutes
Describes butoh from the point of view of the most important artists and major dance companies in Japan. Starting with Tatsumi Hijikata, the video follows his influence and how it spread to other dancers who, after training or watching him perform, started their own companies with their own style and interpretation. The video focuses on the philosophy behind butoh from the perspective of the dancers and the differences in style among prominent choreographers and companies. Includes performance video of each company and an interview with Hijikata’s wife. Essential for collections with an emphasis in modern dance.
Hijikata, Tatsumi, Michael Blackwood, and Bonnie Sue Stein. 2001. Butoh body on the edge of crisis. Northvale, N.J.: Audio Plus Video.
Butoh: Piercing the Mask
1991, 49 minutes
Provides a nice balance between the historical, cultural and artistic influences that helped shape butoh. Includes interviews with professors, dance critics, and artists as well as incorporating still photographs and videos of performances. Essential for libraries with an Asian Studies, Dance or Theatre Collection.
Bollard, Chris, Richard Moore, Nourit Masson-Sékiné, and Tatsumi Hijikata. 1991. Butoh piercing the mask. New York: Distributed by Insight Media.
Creating Physical Theater: The body in performance
2006, 128 min.
Video is divided into chapters which uses a different style of dance to express a concept. The chapter on butoh discusses time and space. While butoh is not the primary focus of this video, it helps give the viewer a better understanding of how an abstract dance gets created and the thinking/planning behind it. Other chapters include sound, creating the dance, structuring the dance, transforming time and space, etc.
Rotie, Marie-Gabrielle, Liam Steel, Grant Davies, and Stephen Pritchard. 2006. Creating physical theater the body in performance. [New York, N.Y.]: Distributed by Insight Media.
A Summer Storm
2003, 71 minutes
Combination of still shots, photographs and vintage performance video (1973) of Hijikata and his choreography. After 1973 Hijikata never danced on stage again and died in 1986. This video is essential for students and researchers seeking primary sources.
Hijikata, Tatsumi, Misao Arai, Yoko Ashikawa, Saga Kobayashi, Momoko Nimura, Mana Katsura, Koichi Tamano, et al. 2003. A summer storm.
Photo by: www.jeremytressler.com
Dance Company: Vangeline Theater