ANKOKU BUTOH 1/4

Doors open: 6:30pm

Note: this  can be booked as single classes but is a 4-week course and is recommended to book all 4 evenings.

An 4-week course in physical awareness, improvisation

and performance

Course format: 4 weeks

Duration: 4 sessions · 2.5 hours per session

This course explores the body as a way of listening, sensing

and relating to space. Through repetition and sustained

practice, we return to a set of fundamental skills, gradually

deepening and refining them.

The practice focuses on listening with the whole body,

responding to internal and external impulses, and exploring

the difference between being and doing. Through physical

preparation, embodied movement and the Japanese art of

Butoh, we develop physical imagination, presence,

attention and awareness of the body in space.

Across four sessions, we create continuity in practice and

allow new ways of moving, sensing and perceiving to

emerge.

What we will explore

1. Food for Body

Physical preparation and body awarenessDeveloping the physical foundations for movement

through:

• Strength and flexibility

• Reaction and balance

• Spatial awareness

• Connection with the body

2. Embodied Movement

Imagination, presence and space

Exploring how the body perceives, responds to and

articulates space through:

• Developing physical imagination and entering inner

landscapes

• Exploring different textures and qualities of movement

• Shifting between different qualities of presence, from

heightened clarity to ambiguity

• Working with gaze, concentration and whole-body

listening

• Exploring the relationship between sound and

movement

• Responding to internal and external impulses

• Directing and shifting attention

• Perceiving the space in front of, behind and around the

body

3. Different Faces of Butoh

From inner journey to improvisation and performanceExploring Butoh as an inner journey, a practice of

improvisation and a form of performance.

Through solo, partner and group work, we will investigate:

• Physical imagination and the creation of complex

images

• Working with narrative through the body

• Responding spontaneously to space, sound and other

bodies

• Developing presence, attention and spontaneity

• Exploring different approaches to Butoh, from internal

processes to shared performance

Who is this course for?

This course is open to anyone interested in deep physical

practice, developing a deeper connection with the body, and

exploring the relationship between body, time and space. It

is for those who wish to explore the limits of the total body,

expand their awareness, and discover the art of spontaneity,

presence and physical expression.

No specific movement background is required — just

curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and an interest in

sustained physical exploration.

Practical Information

The course is designed as a continuous practice.

Participants are encouraged to commit to the full four-

session journey, allowing the work to develop progressively

over time. Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothingthat allows you to move freely. We work barefoot or in

socks, without shoes. Please arrive 5–10 minutes before the

session begins so we can start on time. Bring a bottle of

water if needed.

Tickets are non-refundable, as once they’re sold we often have a waiting list and are happy to help contact those guests to assist with reselling where possible🎟️💛. For our regularly occurring classes, we’re also very happy to rebook your ticket for a different date when needed 📅✨