Following a January press conference in which the New National Theatre, Tokyo, announced that Dairakudakan, one of the world's leading butoh companies, would be staging two performances of "Tsumi to Batsu" ("Crime and Punishment") in March, troupe founder Akaji Maro delivered a triumphant statement.
"Having this unexpected yet fantastic opportunity (to work with the NNTT) feels revolutionary, like we've finally conquered this national (state-run) citadel after so many years," the 75-year-old artist said. "So I am very excited to seize our chance to create the best possible performance piece for the NNTT."
Maro and his cast of white-painted, barely clothed and shaven-headed dancers are sure to take the NNTT by storm when they move through their production in the seemingly unearthly ways of Japan's most singular modern dance form with its grotesque poses and strange gestures.
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