Ushio Amagatsu
Ushio Amagatsu (天児 牛大, Amagatsu Ushio?, born in 1949 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese choreographer known as the leader of the internationally celebrated and innovative Butoh dance group Sankai Juku, which he founded in 1975. He is the artistic director, choreographer and a dancer of Sankai juku. He was also a co-founder of the seminal Butoh collective Dairakakudakan in 1972. All Sankai Juku works since 1982 were premiered at and co-produced by Théâtre de la Ville, Paris. Sankai Juku has performed at more than 40 countries, 700 cities worldwide. Since 1997, he works as opera director as well.
Biography
- In 1949, born in Yokosuka City, Japan
- In 1972, co-founded Dairakudakan
- In 1980, the first performance abroad and the first world tour.
- In 1989, appointed to the artistic director of the Spiral Hall in Tokyo.
- In 1992, presided the Jury of the International Meeting of Dance of Bagnolet.
- from 2002 to 2005, president of judge for "Toyota Choreography Award"
Works
- In 1977, created "AMAGATSU SHO (Homage to Ancient Dolls)"
- In 1978, created "KINKAN SHONEN (Kumquat Seed)"
- In 1979, created "SHOLIBA"
- In 1981, created "BAKKI", which premiered at Festival d'Avignon, France
- In 1982, created "JOMON SHO" (co-produced by and premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
- In 1984, created "NETSU NO KATACHI"
- In 1985, direction & choreography for the photo book "LUNA"
- In 1986, created "UNETSU - The Egg stands out of Curiosity"
- in 1987, direction & choreography for the photo book "THE EGG STANDS OUT OF CURIOSITY"
- In 1988, created "SHIJIMA - The Darkness Calms Down in Space"
- In 1988, created "FUSHI" on the invitation of Jacob's Pillow Foundation, in the U.S., music by Philip Glass, premiered at Spiral Hall, Tokyo.
- In 1989, directed "Apocalypse" (1989), music by Takashi Kako, dance by Ismael Ivo, premiered at Spiral Hall, Tokyo.
- In 1989, directed and choreographed "Fifth-V" (1990) for six American dancers, premiered at Spiral Hall, Tokyo.
- In 1991, created "OMOTE - The Grazed Surface"
- In 1993, created "YURAGI - In a Space of Perpetual Motion"
- In 1995, created "HIYOMEKI - Within a Gentle Vibration and Agitation"
- In February 1997, directed Bartok's opera "Bluebeard's Castle", which conducted by Peter Eötvös, premiered in Tokyo.
- In 1997, directed a concert of Takashi Kako "IRO WO KASANETE", at Park Tower Hall, Tokyo.
- In 1998, created "HIBIKI - Resonance from Far Away"
- In March 1998, at Opéra National de Lyon, France, he directed Peter Eötvös’s opera "Three Sisters" (world premiere). Three Sisters has been seen in the 2001-2002 season at Théâtre de Châtelet in Paris, at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, at Opéra National de Lyon, and at Wiener Festwochen 2002 in Austria.
- In 2000, created "KAGEMI - Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors"
- In 2003, created "UTSURI - Virtual Garden"
- In 2005 re-created "KINKAN SHONEN." Amagatsu's solo parts of the original version are performed by three young dancers.
- In 2006, created "TOKI - A moment in the weave time"
- In 2008, created "TOBARI - As if in an inexhaustible flux"
- In 2008, created "UTSUSHI", which is a collage from past works. Amagatsu doesn't dance in this one.
- In 2010, created "Kara・Mi - Two Flows"
Awards and recognition
- In 1992, Amagatsu was awarded the "Chevalier de l'Ordre de l'Art et des Letters" by French Cultural Ministry.
- In 1998, Peter Eötvös’s opera "Three Sisters", which directed by Amagatsu, received "Prix du Syndicat National de la Critique, France".
- In February 2002, "HIBIKI" won the 26th Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.
- In March 2004, Amagatsu was awarded "Geijutu Sensho Prize (Art Encouragement Prize)", by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan, for his outstanding artistic achievement.
- In 2007, "TOKI" received "Grand Prix of the 6th The Asahi Performing Arts Awards" and Sankai Juku received "Kirin Special Grant for Dance."
- In 2008, Peter Eotvos's opera "Lady Sarashina", which directed by Amagatsu, received "Prix du Syndicat National de la Critique, France" again.
Books, Photo books and other references
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Amagatsu, Ushio |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
1949 |
| Place of birth |
|
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|