Ushio Amagatsu

Ushio Amagatsu (天児牛大, Amagatsu Ushio, born 1949 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa) is a Japanese choreographer known as the leader of the 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 Dairakudakan 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, 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 Théâtre de la Ville, Paris)
In 1984, created "Netsu no Katachi"
In 1985, direction and choreography for the photo book "Luna"
In 1986, created "Unetsu - The Egg stands out of Curiosity"
in 1987, direction and 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 Péter 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 Péter Eötvös’ opera "Three Sisters" (world premiere). Three Sisters has been seen in the 2001-2002 season at Théâtre du 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 des Arts et des Lettres" by the French Ministry of Culture.
In 1998, Péter Eötvös’s opera "Three Sisters", which directed by Amagatsu, received "Prix du Syndicat 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, Péter Eötvös’s opera "Lady Sarashina", which directed by Amagatsu, received "Prix du Syndicat de la critique, France" again.

Books, Photo books and other references

"Luna" (photo book) diredted and choreographed by Ushio Amagatsu, feat. Sayoko Yamaguchi and Sankai juku.
"The Egg stands out of Curiosity" (photo book) diredted and choreographed by Ushio Amagatsu
Interviews with Ushio Amagatsu: Japan Foundation, Performing Arts Network Japan

External links

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