Playful Bodies: Transforming Materiality through LUDUS & Butoh

Course Description:
“Embark on an exploration of Butoh through the dynamic lens of LEIMAY’s Ludus practice. Guided by multidisciplinary artist, director, and choreographer Ximena Garnica, along with guest members of the LEIMAY Ensemble, this course invites you to discover the magic of movement and imagination.

Delve into the captivating world of Butoh, the Japanese art form created by Tatsumi Hijikata in the 1960s. Experience his butoh-fu method, where language transforms into physical imagery, opening new pathways to understanding movement. We will then transition into LEIMAY’s Ludus practice, a journey that deepens your awareness, challenges traditional views of body, space, and time, and explores diverse realms of perception.

Students will cultivate a unique movement language rooted in transformation while developing an awareness of gravity, internal rhythm, and fluidity, all while engaging with the rhythms of the non-human world. The course emphasizes moving from self-centered expressions of “I dance” to the enriching experience of “being danced by,” highlighting the idea of “becoming space-body” rather than simply occupying space.

By the end of this course, you’ll gain insights into the historical and cultural emergence of Butoh in Japan and an understanding of the evolution of LEIMAY’s Ludus. You will also explore non-Eurocentric perspectives on time, space, and the body, enhancing your ability to connect with various materialities through movement.

Join us on a journey where your body becomes a vessel for transformation.”