What is Butoh Cafe

Butoh Cafe was set up in February 2013 and runs monthly at Exchange Dublin.

The intentions that drove me to set up a Butoh Cafe are straightforward  I am a Butoh dance practitioner and as such my aim is to create a space where people can experience Butoh dance and
witness a performance. Butoh Cafe is an open inclusive space that wishes to provide a comfortable and committed atmosphere where anyone can dance.

I believe at times Butoh dance seems a mysterious practice and that people might feel intimidated, especially if in the country there is not much information and practice about what Butoh is.
To my knowledge Ireland has experienced Butoh since the 80s; most recently thanks to Trevor Knight and Butoh dancers Maki Watanabe and Gyohei Zaitsu, the performative aspect of the practice became visible and marked its presence in Ireland.  

What is important to me is to try to develop an audience that can both appreciate the processes involved in the dance as much as be the perceivers of shows and performances.
On this basis, I elaborated Butoh Cafe's format; a two hours event that dedicates the first hour and a half to the practice, introducing foundational exercise and poetic imageries to explore, and the remaining time is dedicated to a piece performed by me, developed around the exercises and themes of the workshop. This is to allow the participants to witness how the practice can transform into performance and how the exercises transmute into a dance piece. At times the performance is studio-rehearsed, at times it is improv-based. This allows the audience of Butoh Cafe to witness different styles and intentions and visions.

It is a pleasure for me to continue,  I hope to see you at the Butoh Cafe soon.

Monthly at Exchange Dublin

Thank you!
Ambra