Vintage Original B&W Photo, A Japanese Dancer in Buto : dance as an initiatory journey – 1973

Contemporary dancers Tatsumi Hijikata (1928–1986) and Kazuo Ono (1906–2010) from Japan founded the Buto style in the 1960s. An actor acting without a mask can also create the illusion of a mask-like visage through work on the face and eyes in No Theatre. The No aragato (rough) acting style from Kabuki theater is characterized by dancers showing just the whites of their eyes through eyelid closure, rolling of the eyes back, or squinting, which is associated with ghosts or death in Japan. Hijikata gave up performing in 1973 and focused on the personal and basic elements of his craft as a director until his passing. He created a set of methods that butoka (buto dancers) still employ today. Possessing a tremendous presence that is intensely transferred to the audience, he endows his dancers with immense charisma and a “power of enchantment,” teaching them a way of being in their own bodies and arousing them to their own sensations so they can express themselves. ”

• Size: 185x130mm
• Year: 1973

Good Condition: This photograph shows minor signs of age and use. There might be some light scratches, slight fading, or minor corner wear, but overall, it maintains a strong visual impact and historical value.