About ButohOUT!

ButohOUT! is the only creative platform of its kind in Australia focusing on this distinctive art form and it is important to continue to build on its growing reputation.

ButohOUT! has woven its way into the fabric of the Melbourne art scene since 2017 and it has built a unique Artists-led creative and laboratory space across Victoria, Australia.

Providing artists, and community members of all ages a creative ground, ButohOUT! celebrates diversity and authentic expression through the idiosyncratic artform of Butoh, and continuously aims to actualise our vision for a radically inclusive artistic practice.

ButohOUT! is a creative platform that breaks expectations and boundaries. It invites diverse arts and non-arts communities to engage with the profound internationally acclaimed art form of Butoh.

ButohOUT! engages with international Butoh dancers to interact with local Australian practitioners to form new initiatives in an open exchange of expertise and performance.

ButohOUT! is the only festival of its kind in Australia focusing on this distinctive art form and it is important to continue to build on its growing reputation.

“Butoh, originally called Ankoku Butoh (Dance of Darkness) conceived in Japan during the late 50’s& early 60’s, during the social turmoil after the war.

Rather than aspiring to an aesthetic ideal, the dance attempts to expose the joys and sorrows of life, exploring the most fundamental elements of physical and psychological existence. ”

The aim of ButohOUT!

ButohOUT! aims to embrace

Activation: To create a radically-inclusive platform, open to all ages, ability, gender, nationality, sexual orientation and level of practice

Innovation: To break through our ‘conventional’ boundaries and ‘habitual’ approaches to open up new territories for creating new works

Transformation: To encourage and foster personal, social and communal transformation through the practice of Butoh

Celebration: To bring people together by creating a space of joy, awe and spiritual well-being within and between communities

Who are we?

Combining the virtuosity of Yumi Umiumare’s (Artistic Director) 30-year Butoh practice, alongside Takashi Takiguchi’s (Creative Producer) 15 years of experience in socially-engaged projects, ButohOUT! is able to offer a diverse range of participation through workshops and performance in partnership with two of Melbourne’s highly-valued and recognised venues such as Abbotsford Convent and Dancehouse.

The unique nature and freedom that is inherent within the practice of Butoh makes it accessible and open to all ages, ability, gender, nationality, sexual orientation and level of practice.

Every year ButohOUT! offers a series of Butoh workshops, a performance-making creative laboratory, a performance season, an outdoor free performance and public forum.

What ButohOUT! offers?

Production - Performance Seasons

Workshops:
> Classical approach to Butoh
> Contemporary approach to Butoh
> Performance-making workshop
> Inclusive workshop for people with different degrees of body conditions
> Family and Children’s workshop (Free) in partnership with Polyglot and Convent kids
> Senior workshop: ‘So You Think You Can’t Dance?’
> On-line workshops inviting international Butoh-masters and practitioners
> Workshop for other arts organisations/groups/schools
> Residential workshop

Forums
> Online forum with international butoh artists