The Japanese avant-garde dance of butoh (the dance of darkness) is often misunderstood. Labeled as abstruse and indefinable by critics, it could be considered an acquired taste. Created in post-World War II Japan by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, the art form is for some, though, a mesmerizing experience. Through rigorous preparation and meditation, many dancers even say they experience a kind of artistic trance.
Butoh reached its peak of popularity in the 1980s when various international dance companies took inspiration from its free association and unorthodox appeal. Its influence can be seen today in contemporary European performance groups such as the acclaimed Catalan mavericks La Fura Dels Baus and Russian experimentalists Derevo.
This month sees the 101st birthday of butoh cofounder Kazuo Ohno and the 30th anniversary of his signature production "Admiring La Argentina." Although currently suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Ohno continued to dance into his 90s. Having seen the legendary South American dancer Antonia Merce y Luque, known as La Argentina,in a 1922 performance at Tokyo's Imperial Theater, he treasured this experience for more than 50 years before finally paying tribute to her. His celebrated show, in turn, inspired a new generation of dancers and propelled the art form into theatrical consciousness.