Yumiko Yoshioka lands soon in Chicago for another deep training workshop called Body Resonance. Based on Butoh and Organic Movement, we focus on the Sensitive and Curious Body.
May 4-7 in person workshop at the Color Club, Chicago, Il, USA
All bodies and levels of experience are encouraged to attend. This workshop is not for dancers only! Anyone with a curiosity to know their body in more ways, to rekindle or develop a new way of relating to your body. There are an infinite number of ways to play.
Each two hour workshop focuses on vocal technique and physical presence. We begin by warming up to connect with our breath and bodies. Through gentle repetition of vowels, consonants, bubbling, and babbling, we expand our vocal range. Listening to one another, playfully passing sound and movement, we find our unique songs and create compositions together.
There is a lot to discover and share!
No previous experience necessary, all ages and abilities encouraged. There is a stairway at the indoor entrance of the building, approximately fifteen stairs with handrails.
SUNFLOWERS FOR ZVENIGORA*
Wannapa P-Eubanks performs at a performance art series to benefit refugees from Ukraine. Photo by Liv Nunn Band
with Wannapa P-Eubanks Saturday Aug.27 & Sunday Aug.28, 2022 10am – 1pm each day Location: (TBA outdoors in Evanston, IL)
Two day workshop culminating in group ritual performance. Three hours each day, outside and under the sky!
Mindfully focus on unearthing deep connection to oneself, each other, and Nature. Weaving these elements relationship, telling story and expressing it through Butoh movements and/or words, etc…[Sky is unlimited]
In hope to re-inspire, to re-spark joy and sense of togetherness.
What to bring: Yoga mat and blanket for some on the ground work, comfortable layers, clothes, snacks and water. Stay hydrated! Include bug spray or sunscreen as needed.
All levels are welcome. Email me with any questions or accessibility needs.
Wannapa performing at Freedom From and Freedom To at Elastic Arts. Photo by Liina Raud
Wannapa P-Eubanks is as a Butoh dance performer, Improviser, Choreographer, Movement Coach, and emerging actor, who creates expressive dance/ movement inspired by personal memories. Her performances often stems from a personal experience or a specific memory that grows into a poetic image that she imbues with the memory. Her venues include Goodman Theatre, Raven Theatre, Chicago Cultural Center, The Athenaeum Theatre, Victory GardenTheatre, MCA, Links Hall, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Access Living, Out of Site Chicago, Elastic Arts, and many more… She was selected to be one of Chicagoan artists to showcase for Dance/USA 2011 at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Wannapa has been part of Laura Crotte’s theatre group to present the “Day of the Death” show for students in Chicago schools. She is a former company member of Erasing the Distance [ETD.]: a documentary theatre exploring mental health. As one of the 4 selected grantees of ETD, she has conceived and produced the performance piece titled: “Through My Daughter’s Eyes” as part of the 2016 PopUp Series for Erasing the Distance by collaborating Theater, and Butoh in the work. Her recent work as a Movement Coach/Choreographer for Collectivo El Pozo theatre group, and Out of Site Chicago to perform in 2018, 2019, Live Streaming in May 2020, and Summer Open-Flow interactive Public performance in collaboration with Chicago Park District in August 2021. She has taught Butoh workshops such as Butoh workshop for actors at Collaboraction Theatre Company, Erasing the Distance [Doc.Fest 2018], Halcyon Theatre, Butoh Body, Chicago Inclusive Dance Festival 2019 [Co-curated by Body Work, Access Living, and Momenta], and individuals artists/actors as part of movement coaching.
Yumiko Yoshioka in a wide sumo stance, pointing a stick toward a painted brown circle on a cement wall. She dons a yellow rain coat and an impish look on her face. The sunlight creates a high contrast shadow.
Coming SOON, Yumiko will be hosting a very special Chicago-style Butoh class, broadcasting live and in person from her home in Tokyo.
March 18-20, 2022 On Zoom (listed below in Chicago, Honolulu, Tokyo time, dial in from Anywhere)
Register for one, two, or all three classes Friday in Chicago 8-9:30pm; Honolulu 3-4:30pm; Tokyo 10-11:30am (Saturday) Saturday in Chicago 8-9:30pm; Honolulu 3-4:30pm; Tokyo 10-11:30am (Sunday) Sunday in Chicago 8-10pm; Honolulu 3-5pm; Tokyo 10-12pm (Monday)
Three 90 minute classes with an opportunity for Q&A after the third class on March 20.
Yumiko has brought her very unique teaching to us many times in person, and this is her third online class for us during pandemic. We all look forward to the days when she will come again in person. For this set of classes we explore a new idea, won’t you join us?
What is onomatopoeia? (the sound that is the movement, for example, yura yura , puka puka, Aun, papipupepo….)
The word onomatopoeia comes from the combination of two Greek words, one meaning ‘name’ and the other meaning ‘I’ make. So, literally, onomatopoeia means the name (or sound) I make. For example, splat! or boing! Both these words are onomatopoeic and they mean nothing more than what they sound like.
These sounds become both playful and useful tools to deepen and cultivate our body and sensorial awareness.
Belonging to a third generation of Butoh artists, Yumiko has developed a personal style of bodywork called Body Resonance, which integrates Butoh practice with features of Noguchi Taiso gymnastics and various other Asian training methods to help prepare the body to receive and transmit dance and inspirations. Body Resonance starts from the idea that the world, including our body and soul, consists of vibrational waves that create constant resonances like echoes. When we tune our body to that frequency, we receive images, feelings and sensations accordingly. For this to happen, we need first to shake off unnecessary tension. In effect, we make a white canvas of our body to paint new color on it. I teach this as neutralization, encouraging a close-to-zero state, scouring off rust and polishing antenna to catch waves from profound layers of the body. The transformations and concentrations of dancing break up the eggshell of form. They melt down the armor of our ego, allowing resonant memories to emerge from our cells that are floating in the primal liquid of time.
(www.yumiko-yoshioka.com)
Yumiko Yoshioka pushes against the ground with the balls of her feet, facing us in a red tunic, with her head to the side, eyes and mouth open, and her braid pointing downward. Her arms dangle with gravity. Her shadow is a high contrast and behind her is a spray painted cement wall, with bright colors and basic shapes of blue, brown, and red.
Butoh Curious Chi 