Anemone Dance Theater is influenced by Japanese Butoh dance. Butoh came into existence in post-WWII Japan as an artistic reaction to the chaos of the country's transition towards western democratic values. Butoh was formed by an amalgamation of influences including the German expressionistic dances of Mary Wigman and Harald Krautzberg, western writers such as Genet, Artaud and de Sade, and Surrealism and Dada. Butoh avoids formal definition and does not adhere to a codified technique. The essence of Butoh lies in creative freedom and focuses on the moment in which the dancers stops being him/herself and becomes someone or something else. Common themes in Butoh are metamorphosis, the cycles of life and death, and human beings' relationship to nature.
Anemonešs creative process often begins with a visual image, wearable art, character study, or imaginative environment. The choreography unfolds organically from the source. The work is also inspired by the teachings of Zen Buddhism and wabi sabi, the Japanese art of impermanence, as well as dance visionaries Loie Fuller, Mary Wigman, Alwin Nicholais, and Pilobolus. Integrating movement with sound, costume, sculpture and visuals creates the ethereal effect that defines Anemone Dance Theater. The company actively pursues interdisciplinary art-making; employing the creative voices of artists from many mediums.
Press
Field Notes: Dance Commentary by Eva Yaa Asawtewaa
Collective Consciousness
Remembering Beauty with Anemone Dance Theater
No Art, Yes Dance!
New York Dance Scene Hits UWM
Festival brings a taste of the Big Apple to Florida
Mission
The company's mission is to share a fresh new approach to dance theater and give the spectator a performing experience where they can be creatively engaged and inspired. The element of collaboration is essential to the company's work and each contributing voice is honored and brings power and vibrancy to the repertory. The physical, auditory, and visual elements are layered to create performances that reflect the bizarre and beautiful.
Web site design by John Hawkns Gordon.