Renowned performance artist Yuko Kaseki will lead a workshop on Butoh, Japan's transformative and expressive dance form, at The Art Farm in Velha Goa. This workshop promises to be a unique experience, blending Japanese artistic traditions with Goa’s cultural scene.
The ‘Frontier in the Body’ workshop series will run in two sessions – a women’s group from February 14 to 17 and a mixed-gender group from February 19 to 22, 2025. The four-day workshop has a unique Goan twist, with performers wearing traditional Goan Kunbi sarees.
Butoh is an expressive art form with storytelling qualities, Yuko Kaseki says and adds, “Every individual carries untold stories within their body. Through Butoh, we will create a space for these stories to surface. I am especially eager to witness the fusion of the local Konkan culture and this contemporary Japanese art form.”
From expressing emotions, memories and transformation through movement, Butoh will explore how personal and collective histories are carried within the body, adds Yuko.
Every individual carries untold stories within their body. Through Butoh, we will create a space for these stories to surface. I am especially eager to witness the fusion of the local Konkan culture and this contemporary Japanese art form.
Yuko Kaseki, Butoh instructor
At the Butoh workshop, a structure flows between guided explorations and free expression, creating a space where each person’s unique movement vocabulary can emerge. Whether exploring solo or in groups, participants often discover new dimensions of their creative potential, making this workshop particularly meaningful for artists, performers and anyone seeking a deeper connection with their body’s natural expressiveness.
Yuko says, “One of the key themes I want to explore is resilience and transformation—both personal and cultural.”
One of the key themes I want to explore is resilience and transformation—both personal and cultural.
Yuko Kaseki, Butoh expert
“Goa has a long history of cultural shifts, and the Kunbi saree, a traditional handwoven textile worn by the indigenous Kunbi women, is a living testament to this resilience. The Kunbi saree was nearly erased from history but is now experiencing a revival. Through movement, we will reflect on this revival and relate it to our own inner transformations.”
A weaving loom is being loaned by the Department of Art and Culture so that weaving too can be demonstrated.
Speaking about Goa’s very deep cultural history, in folk dances and arts like tiatrs and nataks, Yuko plans to introduce the art of Butoh and integrate Kunbi sarees to the mix. “I hope to introduce Butoh not as something separate but as something that can merge with and expand these traditions. We will experiment with elements of tiatr’s theatrical storytelling and the raw emotional depth of Butoh, creating a dialogue between movement and voice. Participants will explore the physicality of emotion, moving beyond words to express stories in a more visceral way,” says Yuko.
Another theme is memory and identity. How do we hold memories in our bodies? How do we reclaim forgotten or suppressed aspects of ourselves? Through Butoh, Yuko will explore these questions, using movement to tap into deeply embedded emotions and experiences.
The workshops will be hosted at The Art Farm by Tinu Verghis, a fashion model turned visual artist, farmer and yoga therapist. Each day includes two Butoh sessions, complemented by meals and rest periods at The Art Farm.
The workshops will be hosted at The Art Farm by Tinu Verghis, a fashion model turned visual artist, farmer and yoga therapist. Each day includes two Butoh sessions, complemented by meals and rest periods at The Art Farm.
DETAILS:
WHAT: Butoh workshop
WHERE: The Art Farm
WHEN: Women's group (February 14-17)
Mixed-gender group (February 19-22)
CONTACT: +91 9112188174