Butoh: The Crucible of Body and Mind
with Vangeline
July 7 - 10, 2022
At
Zen Mountain Monastery
Mount Tremper, NY
How comfortable can we allow ourselves to be in our body? How deeply are we willing to plumb our own depths, to reveal our true face in the mirror? Developed in post-World War II Japan, butoh is a performance form characterized by deep investigation of impermanence, authentic expression, and letting go. Butoh as a body practice is about “revealing” rather than “showing”. In the same way that we reveal the mind to ourself through single pointed concentration in zazen, in butoh we reveal our mind through attention in the body. So we can take this practice as a wonderful opportunity to practice concentration, regardless of our surrounding circumstances.
Zen practitioners often feel a real sense of support by sitting together in the zendo. We can also understand butoh is born from exchange and communal work. Because butoh is not about “showing” it is also not about judging what we’ve been shown. Together in movement led by acclaimed butoh performer Vangeline, participants will experience opportunity for great opening.
Join us starting on Thursday evening for this multi-day movement retreat. Vangeline’s butoh classes incorporate Japanese butoh, elements of Noguchi gymnastics, and guided imagery to offer a workshop adapted to each group’s level of physical fitness.
Schedule:
Wake-up, 5am
Zazen, breakfast. 5:30-8am
Care taking, 8:15-9:40
Retreat sessions: 10am-12:30
Lunch and break 12:30-2
Retreat sessions, 2pm-5pm
Supper 6pm
If you have any questions about this retreat, kindly contact Zen Moutain Monastery.
Contact:
ZMM Registrar
Registrar@dharma.net
(845) 688-2228