Cine Dance: the Butoh of Tatsumi Hijikata

Two important early performances in the 1960s by the creator of Butoh Dance, Tatsumi Hijikata with Kazuo Ohno as main co-dancer. A must-see film to appreciate the foundation of Butoh. (T.I.)

The Black Butoh dance created by Tatsumi Hijikata is closer to the neo-dada movement taking over the provocative, cynical and absurd forms rather than the German expressionist dance usually connected.
- Nicolas Villodre, curator of Cinematheque Francaise, Paris

"Anma (The Masseurs)" is a representative and historical work by the creator of Butoh dance, Tatsumi Hijikata in his early period in the 1960s. The film is realized not only as a dance document but also as a Cine-Dance, a term made by Iimura, that is meant to be a choreography of film. The filmmaker "performed" with a camera on the stage in front of the audience. With the main performers: Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, the film has the highlights such as Butohs of a soldier by Hijikata & a mad woman by Ohno. There is a story of the mad woman, first outcast and ignored, at the end joins to the community through her dance. Inserted descriptions of Anma (The Masseurs) are made for the film by the filmmaker, but were not in the original Butoh. The film, the only document taken of the performance, must be seen for the understanding of Hijikata Butoh and the foundation of Butoh.

Another Cine Dance, "Rose Color Dance" by Tatsumi Hijikata, the creator of Butoh dance, a modern dance of Japan, is a classic of Butoh. Choreographed and performed in 1965 by Hijikata with guest dancer, Kazuo Ohno among others, the film is the only document of this historical performance. Not only as a dance document but also as a Cine-Dance, a term made by Iimura, that meant a choreography of film.
The highlight is the duet of Hijikata and Ohno, a rare appearance of two main characters of Butoh together, who performed a "gay" dance of two male figures with tenderness and wildness at the same time.
Though titled "Rose Color Dance", the film (and the dance as well) is monochrome with strong emphasis on white, all the dancers wearing white clothing with thier bodies painted white, and has occasional washed out scenes which are almost invisible. The scenes are an another attempt of Cine-Dance.

Through these films, it became clear that the Black Butoh dance created by Tatsumi Hijikata is closer to the neo-dada movement taking over the provocative, cynical and absurd forms rather than the German expressionist dance usually connected.
- Nicolas Villodre, curator of Cinematheque Francaise, Paris

ANMA / ROSE COLOR DANCE
1963-2001 / VHS or Mini DV / B&W / silent / 20min