Corporeal Reformation: Butoh Explorations and Body as Phenomenon (Workshop)

Corporeal Reformation: Butoh Explorations and Body as Phenomenon

Remembering is a form of empowerment. As it pertains to this experience that includes the body the term corporeal reformation is used. It is a way of saying at this moment my body needs a reevaluation, a reorganizing, a re-shifting that is deep and spiritual. A remembering of something that came before that is so embedded in ourselves that it is a part of well being. It is a daily practice that by no means will be complete.

This workshop will explore basics (grounding stances), poetic dance notation (Butoh-fu), improvisational image making, body as phenomenon.

Butoh is an avant garde dance form that emerged after World War II and Westernization had devastated Japan. In rejection of Western beauty standards, the dance focuses on highly controlled forms that often emphasize imperfection and exploratory movement. Dance themes often connect to nature and evoke the gravitational pull of the earth on the body. A dance of life, butoh looks deeper into understanding forms known to us from long ago.

If you are interested in volunteering for this workshop or would like to pay a sliding scale rate please email josie at info@razethewhitebox.com.

August's guest workshop & instructor:

RITMOS DEL CUERPO (BODY RHYTHMS) - an investigation of musicality in movement

with Sophia Solano

In this session we will examine the naturally occurring rhythms of our somatic experience, including breath, heartbeat, footstep, asking: what is happening physically and metaphysically during these motions? We will explore percussive tendencies and potentials of our bodies drawing from traditional flamenco palos of 4- and 12- count rhythms (compás). We will also engage elements of butoh with technical discipline and duration, structured improvisation and choreographic play. This class is designed for dancers, musicians, and any other artist interested in enhancing or incorporating rhythmic elements in their works. It is also appropriate for people who may not identify as an artist, but want to connect deeper with the rhythms of their body, increase awareness of movement potential, or simply learn more about the rhythmic laws of Flamenco from within a butoh perspective.

Sophia Solano (1997) is an interdisciplinary dancer living and dreaming between the big trees and salty waters of the central Oregon coast. She is a sister, daughter, cousin, tía, student and teacher who spends most of her time working to build systems of community care and alternatives to police and prison. She is a second-generation flamenco artist and grew up in the sights and sounds of the culture and art form thanks to her father, guitarrista José Solano. She has studied music since the age of six and she continues to make musicality a core element of her dance, positioning the body as a kind of instrument communication through a universal language. Her primary dance practices are influenced by diverse and globalized interpretations of Middle Eastern and North african forms, flamenco and butoh. Sophia was introduced to butoh by Iván Espinosa in the Winter of 2016 and later deepened her studies through transformative workshops with Sheri Brown, Joan Laage, and many other artists collaborating in the Salish Sea bioregion. Her dance work often explores the intersections of tradition and revolution, simplicity and power, the new and the ancient.

Divinebrick (josie j)

Artist divinebrick (josie j) is a self iconoclast search for the sacred primordial being. divinebrick name is a placeholder for an idea that the self is a divine phenomenon holding and care taking the grander whole. Decolonizing the self is the remembering of the soil the self is made of. The name “josie j” is the further erasure of the colonized self accepted for autonomy.

In 2010 josie j began studies in dance with Koichi and Hiroko Tamano. The Tamano’s are Berkeley based Butoh Masters, once students of Tatsumi Hijikata.

josie j has also studied movement with Oguri In Venice, Ca. Oguri being a greatly influential dancer in josie j’s style. While in San Francisco working with the Tamanos josie j worked with performance artist Guillermo Gomez-Pena, who works in a Psycho Magic style.

Gung Fu and Tai Chi practice is also influential in josie j’s corporeal explorations. Studying these Chinese ancient medicines with James Ibrao, from 2013 till his passing in 2020. Sifu James Ibrao was a martial arts legend living in Los Angeles, CA.

Visual, sound, video and craft arts are also mediums that often are used in josie j’s work.

www.razethewhitebox.com

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events, except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING

Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east) and back lot (entry from first alley way, off Griffith Park Blvd. from intersection with Los Feliz Blvd.), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking, many thanks.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to events@prs.org before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
• No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

By registering for this event, the attendee agrees to and acknowledges the following: I hereby represent that I am in good health and able to engage in physical exercise, be it active or passive. I understand that it is my responsibility to consult with a physician prior to and regarding my participation in a "Butoh workshop". I represent and warrant that I have no medical condition which would prevent my full participation in a Butoh workshop.

I understand that this class (“Corporeal Reformation: Butoh workshop”) may include physical activity, meditation, breathwork, and the use of essential oils, and the use of the facilities at Philosophical Research Society (“PRS”), may involve the risk of injury. I voluntarily accept full responsibility for my participation in Butoh workshop, and I expressly waive and release any claim that I may have at any time for injury, damage or loss of any kind against the facilitator josie j or PRS, or any person or entity involved with the facilitator or PRS, including without limitation their respective affiliates and representatives.

To the extent that statute or case law does not prohibit releases for negligence, this release is also for negligence on the part of the facilitator and PRS, and their respective agents and employees. In the event that I should require medical care or treatment, I agree to be financially responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such treatment.

In the event that any damage to equipment or facilities occurs as a result of my or my guest’s willful actions, neglect or recklessness, I acknowledge and agree to be held liable for any and all costs associated with any actions of neglect or recklessness.

I acknowledge that I have carefully read this Waiver and Release and fully understand that it is a release of liability.