Butoh Curious Chi

Mari Osanai in all black on an all white background in a dramatic pose, left knee forward and right arm back and bent upward with her hand cupped upward as well. Her left arm leads with the elbow and her face upward, her hoodie over pulled up. There are limbs coming from the left that belong to Yuko Kaseki, her partner in this group of photos taken by K Morvarid in 2017 in Berlin Germany

Water Body aka Noguchi Taiso

2024 Info:
Friday Nov 1, 6-10pm
Saturday Nov 2, 4-8pm
Sunday Nov 3, 6-9pm

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Three days of workshops, take one, two or all three days for an immersive experience into this technique. It is a body changing practice, similar to Tai Chi or Qi Gong, a moving meditation to better sense the interior body, subtle awareness, and fluid dynamics for ease in all movement.

Noguchi Taiso is practiced by a great number of Butoh practitioners today and has been incorporated by many well known Japanese Butoh teachers and pioneers (Yumiko Yoshioka, Ko Murobushi, Kan Katsura, Otto Morita, Carlotta Ikeda, Aka Maro, Ushio Amagatsu, Semimaru and Kazoo Ohno).

Noguchi Taiso Concepts:

  • Neutralizing your body before creating.
  • The characteristic of living things is their softness.
  • Softness is the richness of the possibility of change.
  • Relax your strength and use gravity as your ally to move fluidly.
  • Sensing subtle differences within the body.
  • The human being’s body is mainly (about 70%) composed of body liquid. It’s not solid.
  • Human being is a living water bag.
  • All movements dynamics are fluid dynamics.
  • One future of liquid movement is extremely complex movements both temporally (time and space),
  • wave circle swirls, complicated and subtle movements.

Noguchi Taiso is an approach to movement research and exploration which begins with a heightened awareness of gravity’s influence on the body and the body’s connection with the center of the earth. Exercises in the workshop train the body to embrace its weight and heighten its sensitivity to move from its most relaxed and receptive state.

The founder of Noguchi Taiso, Michizo Noguchi (野口 三千三 1914~1998 developed this technique in Japan. He was honorary professor of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music ). Michizo Noguchi devised exercises that help you discover and develop infinite possibilities within your body movement

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Mari Osanai is an independent dancer, choreographer, and Noguchi Taiso teacher. She is based in Aomori, Japan (her birthplace). Her early influences are in Tai Chi, western dance methods, traditional folk dance and the connection between one’s thoughts and sensation of weight. 

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This workshop is designed for all levels, all curious bodies are welcome! Prices are calculated per hour of student instruction. Each workshop is three to four hours long. We strongly encourage full attendance. Early bird discounts are approximately $16/hour, late registration is $18/hour. Some BIPOC Scholarships and work study opportunities are available. Email for info: sara@saratonin.com

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT UNTIL OCTOBER 15
WORK STUDY & SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 21

Refund policy:

This workshop is nonrefundable, please contact sara@saratonin.com with questions.

Registration Information