Butoh Curious Chi started as a spark of an idea, a passionate attempt to make something more collectively honoring, with specific regard and respect for the tradition of Butoh. This persistence to raise awareness of the art and philosophy of Butoh created a space for Butoh Chicago to begin a works-in-progress arts organization. We attempt to renegotiate terms of exchange not based on hierarchies or normative behavior, but with tenable respect for a culture of inclusivity, of all nations, creeds, and gender. We accept our flawed attempt as honorable.
We are human, and we are forever curious and grateful to our (in)humanity. We bring a sense of collective positive behavior to all we do.
“We built this city on rock and roll” Starship / Jefferson Airplane
One by one, we have made a triptych and beyond of “post-butoh” festivals over 9 years, Spawned Seeds April 2014, SS2 in April 2015, and SS3: Battles in April 2017 and many happenings in between and since, including Hot Mess! series 2021-2023 always inclusive of Butoh artists from all over the globe.
These gatherings continue to gather energy and momentum, and we are learning to deepen our roots even as new leaves emerge.
Through weekly classes and ongoing opportunities for training, performance, and collaborations, we open our arms to the community to outsider artists and immigrant peoples, for we are outsiders ourselves. We are most often misunderstood and caught up in the unwinding. We are in fact, improvising as we go, and realize ourselves to be capable of change at any moment, using our intuition, our sensations, our creative passion. We listen to people less fortunate than ourselves, to guide our meaning and mission.
We thank many for support and donations and sponsorship and simply all the help and cheering. We are encouraged to continue and grow, to inspire that growth in our communities here and now.
We Are Change Agents. We stand with #LBTGQ #BlackLivesMatter #QueerPositive #HIVPositive #equalityforall #freethenipple #blackpower #peta #terrorismisnotareligion #pride #lgbtpride #smile #entrepreneur #silencekills #endthehate #metoo #shatterthestigma #love #genderequality #raceequality #integration #humanrace #breakthesilence #artforacause #dontjudge #youdoyou #prohuman #interraciallove #powertothepeople #revolutionaries #civilrights #intersectional #spreadlove #lovewins
Some selected resources for dismantling racism:
FANTASY WORLD MASTER LIST OF RESOURCES ON HOW TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM
SAIC’s TOOLKIT for MOVEMENT BUILDING
Anti-racism Resource Guide by Tasha K
We are allowing ourselves to be flexible, and maintain any of these archive to the best of our abilities. We are stewards of art and humanity; social health and change; we are foraging artists, human, and next iteration.
Butoh Curious Chi 