Virus Photo: Junichi Matsuda
The Montpellier Dance Festival was begun in the French southern coastal city of Montpellier in 1981. It is held every summer and is France’s largest dance festival, with the leading ballet and contemporary dancers from all over Europe. This year Dairakudakan will perform two pieces at the festival, which is a rare case.
They will perform their Virus on June 29 at the Opera Comedie for the first time abroad, and Crazy Camel on July 3 at the outdoor Theatre Agora. Virus was first performed in July 2012 at Setagaya Public Theatre in Tokyo, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tempu-Tenshiki*1. Crazy Camel is a gold dust Butoh dance piece which was performed in October 2012 at the Japan Cultural Hall in Paris to rave reviews.
Dairakudakan
Founded as one of the first Butoh dance companies in 1972 by Akaji Maro, based on his strong beliefs about Tempu-Tenshiki*1 and Miburi-Teburi*2. Dairakudakan has produced more than 60 pieces up to today. It emerged onto the international scene in 1982, when the company made its international debut in France and U.S. Its performance had a great impact and contributed greatly to the awareness of Butoh in the world. Since then, the word, Butoh, has spread out throughout the world and the style of dance, and Butoh has had a great impact on other contemporary dances and art scenes.
In addition to his passion for creating new work, Maro’s mission is to develop young dancers, and he is producing a great number of competent Butoh dancers and dance groups.
*1 Tempu-Tenshiki: A word created by Maro. It means that “Being born in the world is a great talent itself.”
*2 Miburi-Teburi: Originally refers to a way of using (moving) our hands and bodies. Here, Maro uses the word as a way of approaching our daily, elementary movements to be incorporated into his works.
2-1-18-B1 Kichijoji Kitamachi, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0001
Tel: +81-(0)422-21-4982
E-mail: temputenshiki◆dairakudakan.com
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Virus at Opera Comedie, Montpellier
Crazy Camel at Theatre Agora, Montpellier
