Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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DANC1017A-W24

Introduction to Butoh Dance

Introduction to Butoh Dance
This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of butoh dance. Butoh is a contemporary dance form that originated in Japan in the 1950s and has since spread worldwide. This form values explorations of presence, transformation, and the development of curiosity to create full-bodied performance. Students experience butoh techniques through a series of movement exercises, choreography, and improvisational activities. This course explores butoh’s themes, history, and evolution, investigating how it differs from western contemporary dance by subverting dance norms and embracing refusal. Through embodiment, supporting course materials, creative writing practices, and artistic generation, students understand butoh’s physical and emotional components while strengthening creative expression and confidence in the body.

Meshi Chavez is a teacher, butoh dancer, and choreographer and was recently Artist in Residence at Middlebury College from the Fall of 2021 to the Spring of 2023. He received his MFA at the University of the Arts./
Course Reference Number (CRN):
11561
Subject Code:
DANC
Course Number:
1017
Section Identifier:
A

Course

DANC 1017

All Sections in Winter 2024

Winter 2024

DANC1017A-W24 Lecture (Chavez)