Pollen Revolution

Akira Kasai

Hideyo Tanaka & Takahiro Hachikubo

Friday, October 1, 2004

Bowker Auditorium   8:00 pm
General Admission Adults $20, $15; Students: $10, $7

"No one dances like him, and nobody can dance like him. The revolution of life takes place in his body." - The Asahi, Japan. Akira Kasai is one of the most highly acclaimed performers of butoh dance, one whose artistic development incorporates elements from both his native Japan and the West. He has been described as the "Nijinsky of Butoh," and praised as an "angel descended to earth." Akira Kasai has performed throughout the world and made his New York debut at the Japan Society in Spring 2002 with Pollen Revolution. This daring solo performance takes the audience on an almost surreal journey through time, cultures and states of being. Kasai begins the performance costumed as a woman in a kabuki drama. He appears to perform a traditional Japanese dance but is completely improvising. Gradually, the costume flies away, madness sets in and Kasai is transformed into a street dancer, a solitary actor, a contemporary traveler. Here, on the outer boundaries of un-self consciousness, change is the only constant as butoh meets and becomes hip-hop.

 

Associated Events

Master Class with Akira Kasai

Wednesday, September 29, 2004 Hampshire College will be September 29 from 11am to 12noon in the Main Studio. Mount Holyoke College at 7pm
Call 577-2486 for Information
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