Series: New Television
Program: New Television
Episode: 508
Date: 1989-01-01
Duration: 00:01:08

Subject: Interviews; Butoh
People: Velez, Edin
Copyright Holder: Edin Velez

Clip Description
Edin Velez's study of Butoh includes archival footage of early Butoh pioneer Tatsumi Hijikata, who is credited as the form's originator. Kazuo Ohno, another early Butoh performer, is shown performing his famous "Admiring La Argentina," and other works. Other companies whose works are shown include Akaji Mori's Dai Rakuda Kan, Isamu Ohsuga's Byakko Sha, and Yoko Ashikawa's Hakutoboh. These examples reveal the depth and diversity of Butoh as it has evolved. Many of these dancers worked directly with Hijikata at some point and all speak to his influence, as they are interviewed about the art form. One performer, Akiko Motofuji, explains, "Ballet and modern dance spring from the earth...Hijikata created a dance, which crawls on the earth."

Program Description
This episode of "New Television" features "Dance of Darkness" by Edin Velez, and "Karkador" by Peter Calles.

In "Dance of Darkness", Edin Velez presents a study of Japanese Butoh dancing and its myth, folk stories, and history. This provocative theatrical dance form is poetically illustrated through the choreography and words of Butoh. The work is just short of an hour in length. Produced by Edin Velez and Edith Velez. Directed by Edin Velez. Copyright: Edin Velez.

"Karkador" is a playful tour through colorful computer graphics. Accompanied by music by P-Model, Based on the Japanese children's game "Menko," Peter Calles transforms everyday characters and scenes into geometric shapes, which are edited into a whirlwind of zesty animation. The piece is approximately 4 minutes long. Copyright: Peter Calles.

Series Description
The New Television Workshop originated at WGBH, a public broadcasting station in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1974 to support the creation and development of experimental video art. This experimental programming included dance, drama, music, performance and visual arts on video and film. As early as 1968, WGBH was committed to the development of video art through residency programs, with artists such as Nam June Paik, and the "Rockefeller Artists-in-Television" project. Many of these early works (pre-1974) were broadcast both locally and nationally.

As an umbrella for arts related programming, the Workshop included "Artist's Showcase, " "Frames of Reference, " "Dance for Camera, " "Poetry Breaks," and "New Television," as well as acquired arts programming. Individual works were created for "Visions," a series produced by WNET (New York), and "Alive From Off Center," a series produced by KTCA (St. Paul - Minneapolis). The Contemporary Art Television (CAT) Fund was co-founded by the Workshop and Boston's Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) in the 1980's, to commission works by video artists. In 1993 the Workshop ceased production at WGBH.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/NTW/FA/TITLES/Dance77.HTML