GBH Openvault

New Television; New Television, Episode 508; Dance of Darkness

Part of New Television Workshop.

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. Approximate date: 1989

Series

New Television

Program

New Television, Episode 508

Program Number

508

Title

Dance of Darkness

Series Description

"New Television" began as a local pilot production of WNET (New York) in 1986. In 1987, WGBH signed on as co-producer, and the shows were aired in Boston and New York. In 1988 and 1989, KCET (Los Angeles) and WETA (D.C.) became producers in association. In 1991, PBS picked up "New Television," and it was broadcast nationally. The following year, the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, replaced WNET, WETA, and KCET as co-producer with WGBH. In 1993, WGBH ceased to be a co-producer for the series, and the "home base" moved to Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) in Hartford, CT.

"New Television" commissioned, produced, and acquired programming. In its early years, "New Television" broadcast works commissioned by The Contemporary Art Television (CAT) Fund. Increasingly, experimental films as well as video works were broadcast as a part of this series. Many of the later episodes of "New Television" contain works that play with and deconstruct the documentary genre. Series release date: 1986

Program Description

Includes Edin Velez’ “Dance of Darkness” and Peter Callas’ “Karkador.”

Asset Type

Clip

Media Type

Video

Subjects

Buto

Interviews

Velez, Edin

Dance

Documentaries and factual works

Topics

Film and Television

Publication Information

WGBH Educational Foundation

Citation

Chicago: “New Television; New Television, Episode 508; Dance of Darkness,” GBH Archives, accessed April 19, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B0C17FEFA7A540B6979A0ACD602AF92E.

MLA: “New Television; New Television, Episode 508; Dance of Darkness.” GBH Archives. Web. April 19, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B0C17FEFA7A540B6979A0ACD602AF92E>.

APA: New Television; New Television, Episode 508; Dance of Darkness. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_B0C17FEFA7A540B6979A0ACD602AF92E