LEIMAY Ludus Lab with guest dancer Mari Osanai

This was a workshop by guest dancer Mari Osanai. It focused on introduction to Noguchi Taiso and creating your own movement. Noguchi Taiso (Noguchi Gymnastics) was created in Japan by Michizo Noguchi (1914-1998) during the same period as butoh was being developed by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno. The aim is to develop the uniqueness of each individual movement and to relieve any undue strain. Taizo means ‘gym’ in Japanese, but not in the conventional sense. As Osanai explains, ”This technique has nothing to do with the swelling of the muscles nor resistance forces. The body learns to move in a certain way but is loose and fluid. It becomes soft and flexible as it uses its own weight to be moved.” During the third module students will work on short solos and group pieces.