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Art work from the choreographic notes of Kazuo Ohno
1998 International Dance Day
Message by Kazuo OHNO
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
Kazuo OHNO was born in Hokkaido, Japan in 1906. In 1929 he decided
to dedicate his life to dance. He began his training with two of Japan's
modern dance pioneers, Baku Ishii and Takaya Eguchi, the latter a choreographer
who had studied Neue Tanz with Mary Wigman in Germany.
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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