[About Kazuo Ohno] Reliving the Butoh Diva’s Masterpieces – A solo performance by Takao Kawaguchi

[Venue] Chang Theatre

[Date] Friday 26^th – Sunday 28^th October, 2018

The Japan Foundation, Bangkok and Chang Theatre has proudly present About Kazuo Ohno; a solo dance performance by Takao Kawaguchi. With all respect to the Butoh master; Kazuo Ohno, Takao will be reliving the Butoh Diva’s masterpieces in order to portray and search for the connection between him and contemporary audiences. Three performances of About Kazuo Ohno were held at Chang Theatre from Friday 26^th – Sunday 28^th October 2018. A small exhibition; Modern Dance to Butoh: from Kazuo Ohno Archive, were also installed within the performance venue lobby for the public audience to see. The exhibition showed materials belonging to Kazuo Ohno Archive, including posters, videos and Takao’s creative notes.

Takao Kawaguchi also conducted a workshop entitled Takao Kawaguchi’s Body Sculpture Workshop: Experience the process of making “About Kazuo Ohno”, for the registered general public on Saturday 27^th October from 1 PM until 4 PM at Chang Theatre. In this workshop, participants had the opportunity to experience first-hand, the methods Takao used for creating this solo piece; tried to analyze and copy Kazuo Ohno’s movements by observing the original excerpts from his masterpieces.

About Takao Kawaguchi

While joining the Japanese multimedia performance company Dumb Type from 1996 to 2008, Kawaguchi started his solo performance in 2000. His recent pieces include: “DiQueNoVes (Say You Don’t See)” (2003), “D.D.D.- How Many Times Will My Heart Beat Before It Stops?” (2004), “Good Luck” (2008) and “TABLEMIND” (2011). He also worked on Butoh-related pieces such as: “The Ailing Dance Mistress– based on the texts of Tatsumi Hijikata” (2012), and “About Kazuo Ohno” (2013). He is active in various filed, such as being the director of the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival from 1996 to 1999.

Cast and staff

Choreography: Kazuo Ohno and Tatsumi Hijikata

Concept and Dance: Takao Kawaguchi

Dramaturge, Video and Sound: Naoto Iina

Costumes: Noriko Kitamura

Lighting, Stage manager: Toshio Mizohata

More about “About Kazuo Ohno” and Takao Kawaguchi:

https://www.kawaguchitakao.com/ohnokazuo/index_en.html

Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1883539158621063/

Previews/ reviews in the press:

https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/art/30356890?fbclid

https://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/art/1560018/butohs-back-in-bangkok

“About Kazuo Ohno” performance at Chang Theatre

Preshow in front of the theatre

Moving the performance inside the theatre

Performance inside the theatre

Video of Yoshito Ohno with Kazuo Ohno puppet as a part of the performance

Performance inside the theatre

Greetings at the end of the performance

Post show discussion with Takao Kawaguchi and Pichet Klunchun; owner of Chang Theatre

Pichet Klunchun with Takao Kawaguchi

Exhibition in front of the theatre

Original posters from Kazuo Ohno Archive

Original posters and performance recordings from Kazuo Ohno Archive

Sketches of Kazuo Ohno’s movements drawn by Takao Kawaguchi

Registration area

Workshop

Studying Kazuo Ohno’s movements from sketches

Trying to copy Kazuo Ohno’s body posture

Trying to copy Kazuo Ohno’s body posture and move


	Performance schedule
	Performance 1: Friday 26th October 2018 Door open: 7:20 PM Show starts: 7.30 PM

	Performance 2: Saturday 27^th October 2018 Door open: 7:20 PM Show starts: 7.30 PM

	Performance 3: Sunday 28^th October 2018 Door open: 1:50 PM Show starts: 2 PM

	Performance duration: 110 minutes Venue: Chang Theatre (Prachauthit 59, Thunkgru)
	Total audiences: 157 audiences

	*Takao Kawaguchi’s Body Sculpture Workshop: Experience the process of making “About Kazuo Ohno”*
	Saturday 27th October 2018 ǀ 1 – 4 PM ǀ Chang Theatre Total participants: 16 people (Dancers, performers, artists or individuals with basic movement skills)