Vangeline Theater/ New York Butoh Institute
In collaboration with Howl Arts
Present
Queer Butoh 2021
June 8, 15 and 22nd, 2021
Tuesdays
8pm EASTERN
Streaming Free at www.howlarts.org
After each live stream, the video presentations will be available at www.vimeo.com/vangeline
until June 30, 2021
At its origin, the introduction of Butoh in Japan was widely controversial. The first homoerotic butoh performance, Kinjiki (Forbidden Colors) created by Tatsumi Hijikata in 1959, caused controversy amongst its spectators. This year, Queer Butoh returns during Pride month as a video series featuring LGBT/Q butoh dancers from Singapore, South Africa, and Italy. The featured artists present their work and reflect on the intersection of Butoh and Queerness.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 8 pm EASTERN: Damiano Fina (Italy) performs Helios and talks about Queer Butoh Pedagogy (60 minutes).
Damiano Fina is an artist and writer, founder of the FÜYA method. A pedagogical approach to dance, alchemy and their spiritual origin since the Pleistocene. Since 2004 its artistic research has been influenced by alchemy, the ancient rituals of Classical Greece, the teachings of the Zen master Dogen, butoh dance, radical queer theory, and continuous readings and meditations. Its artistic research explores mysticism and philosophy through the body and its multiple possibilities of connection. It has performed in London, Paris, Berlin, Thessaloniki, Japan, and various Italian festivals. Damiano holds a master's degree in Pedagogy of Expression. In 2017 it connected queer theory with butoh dance in its project for a queer pedagogy, publishing the book "The dance of Eros and Thanatos: butoh and queer pedagogy". In 2020 it published the book "Dance and Alchemy", which introduces to the FÜYA method. www.damianofina.it/en
Photos by Riccardo Panozzo.
Howl! Happening
Gallery | Performance Space | Archive
Like the neighborhood in which it was born and the Howl! Festival that began it all, Howl! Happening is a space of untamed creativity. Howl! Happening curates exhibitions and stages live events that showcase the historical legacy and contemporary culture of the East Village and Lower East Side. It is also dedicated to preserving the archives of artists who spent their creative lives working in this vibrant community and houses the Estates of artist Arturo Vega and the beloved performance artist, Tom Murrin aka “The Alien Comic.” The history of the East Village is still being written. The mix of rock and roll, social justice, art and performance, community activism, gay rights and culture, immigrants, fashion, and nightlife are even more relevant now and Howl! Happening aims to shine a light on artists from the past in the place where their art came alive and where they played and worked. Howl! Happening is an Arturo Vega Project. Visit howlarts.org
This program was supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Publicity by Michelle Tabnick.