BUTOH RESIDENCY offers three days of live performances, films and a workshop that see Japanese and European musicians, dancers and artists working together to advance the global recognition of Butoh – both as a uniquely Japanese art form and as a vibrant international platform for communicating in or beyond all languages. Collaborating artists include pianist and vocalist Aya Ogawa and dancer Mushimaru Fujieda from Japan; Butoh-Techno from Poland, French electronic musician Pascal Savy and, on film, performances by the late Sapporo based dancer Yoko Muronoi and percussionist Ikuro Takahashi.

15 May Wednesday doors 7.30pm
BUTOH TECHNO
Formed three years ago out of a collaboration between Aya Ogawa and the P oland based Shepherds of Cats, Butoh-Techno is an international dance and sound spectacle bringing together the aforementioned improv ensemble, Maciej Piatek aka VJ Pietrushka, saxophonist/composer Matylda Gerber, dancer Mushimaru Fujieda and Aya Ogawa.

17 May Friday doors 7.30pm
Part 1 - Film Screening
A film show of rare footage paying tribute to the late Sapporo based dancer Yoko Muronoi (1959–2017), whose work included performances in the UK with her musician partner Ikuro Takahashi as Anoyonodekigoto. Plus a film-in-progress of Yoko Muronoi in performance by London based artist Holly Warburton.
Part 2 - Live performance
Dancer Mushimaru Fujieda performing to sound by Pascal Savy and Aya Ogawa.

19 May Sunday 1pm to 6pm
BUTOH workshop ‘Natural Physical Poetry’ by Mushimaru Fujieda

AYA OGAWA (piano & vocal) & MUSHIMARU FUJIEDA (butoh dance) UK TOUR

As Butoh Techno
14 May Brighton (The Rose Hill)
16 May Bradford (Fuse Art Space)

With Charlie Collins (percussion) and Beatrix Ward-Fernandez (violin)
21 May Sheffield (Access Space)

MUSHIMARU FUJIEDA
Born in 1952 in Aichi Prefecture, Mushimaru Fujieda is now based on the rainforest island of Yakushima in Japan. He began working in drama in 1972 and then joined Ishin-ha company in 1978. Since 1989 he has gone out as an independent solo performer inside and outside of Japan. After receiving the highest praise from the late, great American poet, artist and activist Allen Ginsberg, Mushimaru was inspired to redefine his work as that of a Natural Physical Poet. In 1997 he received the Tobita Drama Award for “Most Excellent Improvised Dance”. His other activities have included: a mask dance-drama for Himalayan religious ceremonies, collaborations and theatrical presentations with, among others, Finnish avant garde drummer Edward Vesala and American poet Allen Ginsberg; appearances at Rainbow 2000 techno festival in Japan, Juksan International Arts Festival in Korea and on television on the Kyoto Satellite Channel, Asian Performing Arts Now in Japan with dancer Edwin Lung, and with the Korean company Paekche under Professor Sung-Sik Chang.

AYA OGAWA
Pianist, vocalist, educator and artist Aya Ogawa lives in Hakodate, Hokkaido. She started playing piano in 1968 and has been involved in theatre since 1970. Ogawa is also a songwriter, organiser of poetry readings and publisher of picture books. These experiences inform her improvisations, which include work with Japanese and international musicians and dancers such as Sabu Toyozumi, Peter Brötzmann and Deku Ogawa, and Butoh dancers Hal Tanaka, Mushimaru Fujieda, Atsushi Takenouchi and Tukasa Kamidate