15.10. From Laban to Hijikata by Rocío Batafurai

Workshop: From Laban to Hijikata

Facilitator: Rocío Batafurai

When: Thursday 15th October

Time: 11:00 am – 13:00 pm

How do we inhabit the void that surrounds us? What is the honest time that allows memories, images, and poetry to find us, rather than us seeking them out?

This monograph is a journey from structure toward dissolution. We begin with the Laban System—not as a rigid code, but as a tool for exploring the qualities of effort. We listen to and observe our movement, becoming aware of the kinesthetic place where existence begins: our own body.

Workshop Phases:

Laban Awareness: The map of efforts and internal geometry.

Organic Architecture: The body as a landscape in transformation.

Hijikata Notations: The creative use of Butoh-fu for composition.

Inner Dance: Discovering a personal language that does not imitate, but emanates.

This workshop is designed for those who wish to combine the precision of movement analysis with absolute surrender to the Butoh images.

Rocío Batafurai is a choreographer, dancer, art curator, visual artist, and movement researcher based in Spain. Her creative practice is deeply fascinated by organic architecture and natural soundscapes, exploring stage dialogues and the poetic atmosphere of materials as the primary sanctuary for humankind.

She investigates the consciousness of space from a minimalist perspective, heavily rooted in the Japanese artistic principles of emptiness and continuum with nature. She has studied video editing, Japanese Sumi-e painting, and performative canvas work, presenting her short-form video-dance pieces at international festivals worldwide.

BE(A)WARE BUTOH FESTIVAL 2026