Tatsumi Hijikata played a foundational role in the emergence of the powerfully original Japanese Butoh ("ancient dance step of utter darkness”) dance movement during the 1960s. We invited his participation in the 1969 CROSS TALK INTERMEDIA Festival. He proposed a work to involve a live giraffe, a number of crows and a number of elderly women. We secured the participation of the giraffe, but, for unknown reasons, Hijikata withdrew, using the traditional Japanese go between of his personal “master” who made his apologies to us known. |
