“Butoh performers drop the human condition and cultural programming and work with the body and our feelings, cell memory”

Honza Svasek studied Butoh with famous Butoh masters: Itto Morita, Atsushi Takenouchi , Ken May, Yumiko Yoshioka, Yuko Ota, Imre Thormann, Iwana Masaki , Rhizome Lee, Yuk io Waguri and Natsu Nakajima. Recently he along with Izabela Wazsek, Jiyo (Subbody Butoh School) & Janardan Ghosh performed "Resonating" with Kali & The Sick Dancing Princess which was organized by The Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Subbody Butoh School, "Katha' Kali" & The Arshinagar Project. The jazz and sound was done by Andrew Kay, flute and voice art was by Pradip Chatterjee, live art by Viola, and chants by Vidyapati.

How would you explain Butoh to someone who is hearing it for the first time?

Butoh is a shamanic performance art form. It originated in Japan in the 60's as a rebellion against traditional Japanese theater/dance. It was developed by Hijikata and Ohno.

You are a Networking specialist. How did you get interested in Butoh? What was it that intrigued you?

In 2007 I found Butoh by accident. I was living in an artist community in Rotterdam and one of my colleagues asked me to participate in a Butoh piece. The shamanic aspect interested me and I decided to research the subject. In 2011 I spent six months at the Subbody Butoh School in Dharamsala. After that it became a lifestyle.

Is Butoh a special message that is enjoyed by only a few people?

Butoh performers drop the human condition and cultural programming and work with the body and our feelings, cell memory. We try to dance the whole of existence, so we research and contact our dark side (the shadow, the darkness of the body). Also, I guess this is not for everybody. Quite some of the current Butoh teachers dropped this darkness and teach ‘White Butoh’, ‘The Butoh of Life, etc.

What kind of training does one have to undergo to absorb the essence of this form?

A workshop can give some basics and plant some seeds, but to become a professional Butoh performer needs time. There are however very few places where you can study and practice for a longer period, one of them being in Dharamsala.

 What is a frequently misunderstood facet of Butoh?

The most difficult part of the practice is to get and stay in a state of alternate consciousness, so the spirit can take over and dance the body. Dropping the ego and daily mind is necessary, but it takes a lot of practice and time before you are really there.

 How was your experience here in Kolkata?

Kolkata was for me one of the most pleasant cities in India. Somehow the people are quite open, happy and free compared to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune.