Ko Murobushi: «Quick Silver»

Internationally acclaimed Butoh artist Ko Murobushi is one of those whose work promotes the essential vision of Butoh, having studied under Tatsumi Hijikata in 1968, and thus directly inherited Hijikata’s original ideas. His earnest exploration of the body – or in other words, life – led Murobushi to the practice of asceticism and several years living as a Yamabushi mountain monk. Back in society, he co-founded the Butoh group Dairakudakan together with Akaji Maro, Ushio Amagatsu and others in 1972.

In the years that followed, he established the two main Butoh groups whose activities introduced Butoh to Europe, namely Ariadone with Carlotta Ikeda, and a male Butoh group, Sebi.

Besides choreographies for others, Murobushi also channelled his intense research into the body and dance into solo performances, including the superb “Edge” series from 2000, acclaimed for its daring investigation into the critical state of life on the edge. His new solo, “Quick Silver,” presents the thrilling struggle of the body wrestling with gravity in ultimate balance, doomed to collide and fall. The aesthetics and charm of Murobushi Butoh is condensed in this compelling solo.

A man in a black coat ...