This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Japanese Butoh to Orange County: Sankai Juku Comes to California
image courtesy of IO-Factory
Established in 1975 and having performed in 700 cities and 40 countries since then, the Japanese butoh company Sankai Juku brings its 1998 award-winning work, Hibiki, to the Irvine Barclay theater this Saturday for a single show. Under the direction of western-trained Ushio Amagatsu, the company will present Hibiki (translates to Resonance From Far Away), accompanied by a lyrical and electronic score by Takashi Kako and Yoichiro Yoshikawa.
For the don't-know-anything-about-this viewer/reader, butoh (pronounced "boo-toe") is a form of dance created in Japan in the aftermath of WWII. It is characterized by an extremely slow movement vocabulary, hairless, near naked bodies painted white and striking imagery, often disturbing and reflective of a culture that has seen its share of catastrophe. As a counterpoint, the motifs of rebirth and the passage of time bring an elegance and emotional depth to the stage.
This company is known across the globe as being the apex of an art form that is the intersection of dance and visual imagery, often revealing an unforgettable poeticism.
Though it’s happening down the road a bit, I think it’ll be well worth the Saturday drive.
Click here for a preview.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
