Resources

Butoh: Dance of Darkness is a unique and profound form of expression that explores the depths of human emotion and experience. Originating in post-war Japan, this dance art form embraces themes of shadow, transformation, and the subconscious. With its slow, controlled movements and stark imagery, Butoh invites audiences to confront the darker aspects of life, creating a connection between performer and viewer. Experience the haunting beauty of Butoh and discover the transformative power of dance.

This is the first part of a seven part series on butoh, the mysterious performance style that began in Japan in the late 1950s. In future episodes I’ll be discussing the history of butoh, the aesthetics of butoh and butoh’s relationship with Western Art.

This article's aim is to provide an annotated bibliographic resource guide for scholars researching butoh and academic and research libraries with collection development areas specializing in modern dance and/or Asian studies.