International Dance Day
29th April
Art work from the choreographic notes of Kazuo Ohno
1998 International Dance Day
A Message to the Universe
On the verge of death one revisits the joyful moments of a lifetime.
One's eyes are opened wide-gazing into the palm, seeing death, life, joy and sorrow with a sense of tranquillity.
This daily studying of the soul, is this the beginning of the journey ?
I sit bewildered in the playground of the dead. Here I wish to dance and dance and dance and dance, the life of the wild grass.
I see the wild grass, I am the wild grass, I become one with the universe. That metamorphosis is the cosmology and studying of the soul.
In the abundance of nature I see the foundation of dance. Is this because my soul wants to physically touch the truth ?
When my mother was dying I caressed her hair all night long without being able to speak one word of comfort. Afterwards, I realized that I was not taking care of her, but that she was taking care of me.
The palms of my mother's hands are precious wild grass to me.
I wish to dance the dance of wild grass to the utmost of my heart.
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Kazuo OHNO - Author - 1998 International Dance Day Message
In 1997, Ohno premiered his solo Butoh work directed by Hijikata, " La Argentina Sho " (Admiring La Argentina), which was awarded the Dance Critics' Circle Award. In 1980, Kazuo Ohno toured to Strasbourg, London, Stuttgart, Paris and Stockholm. With Hijikata directing, he created two major works, " My Mother " and " Dead Sea " performed with Yoshito Ohno. Other works of Ohno's include " Water Lilies ", " Ka Cho Fu Getsu " (Flowers-Birds-Winds-Moon) and " The Road in Heaven, the Road on Earth ".
Kazuo Ohno starred in the films " Portrait of Mr O " (1969), " Mandala of Mr O " (1971), " Mr O's Book of the Dead " (1973) and " Kazuo Ohno " (1995). He has written three books on Butoh, " The Palace Soars Through the Sky ", " Dessin " and " Words of Workshop ".
As one of the most significant Butoh performers, Ohno has toured throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia.
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