Masaki Iwana
Nationalität: Japan
Adresse: Réveillon - Frankreich
Website: www.iwanabutoh.com
One of the most acclaimed Butoh performers in Japan today, one of the rare Butoh performers in the world who maintain the original Butoh spirit.
Masaki Iwana began his dance career outside the "Butoh genealogy" in 1975. Until 1982 he presented 150 experimental performances in which he stood straight, completely naked and perfectly still. Since then, in Europe as well as Japan, Iwana has presented his performances and workshops continuously and has created works which are built on his sharpened aesthetic in 100 cities - 40 countries. Iwana represents the institute for the research of Butoh La Maison du Butoh Blanc. Moreover in 2006 he produced and created a theatrical film 'Vermilion Souls'.
Masaki Iwana (dancer, choreographer, dance teacher, film director)
<Personal Career>
1945 Born in Tokyo, Japan.
Graduate Keio university Tokyo-Japan, entered to TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System)
Retired TBS and started the activities as an actor.
Started dancing independently as fringe.
Established the Research Institute of Butoh dance Hakutoh-Kan in Tokyo.
Moved to France and started the activities in Europe.
Established the Research Institute of Butoh dance La Maison du Butoh Blanc
in south Normandy-France.
2005 Started film making.
<Artistic career>
Jumped into the body work which could not be named ‘theater’ nor ‘dance’.
1979-84 Developed more than 150 performances with standing up-right, stillness with naked.
Official invitation by Avignon Chartreuse International Theater-Dance Festival and acclaimed.
1989 Invited by May Fest in Glasgow. Solo dance piece ‘Half Demon’ was acclaimed.
1990 2 weeks continual solo performances at Communita theater in Rome.
One of the best five in the Festival ‘Mimos’ (International Mime Fes. In
Perigueux – France)
Cultural Emission to Russia and Romania organized by Japan Fondation.
Fabrication of the first butoh essay ‘Dressed in Water’.
Lecture ‘Butoh has never existed’ in the frame of Butoh Festival’East Wind’at Chisenhall in London.
Started International butoh workshop “Spanning the centuries” culminating with spring 2006 in South Normandy – France.
Started the Festival ‘Danse Direct’ in South Normandy.
Butoh essay ‘Human as Material Entity’ was written.
Joined to SAPA(the seminor for East Europe artists) in Sofia.
Butoh piece ‘Figure de Femme’ was acclaimed at the same time this piece was filmed as digital video film. .
Fabrication of the second butoh essay ‘The Intensity of Nothingness’ in English-Japanese.
~08 Realization of theatrical film ‘Vermilion Souls’.
2006 The Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan has supported Iwana’s film. In August he started the second internationl butoh workshop “Verda Utopio” culminating with spring 2011 in South Normandy – France
2005~09 Realization of second feature film ‘The Summer Family’
2009 ‘Vermilion Souls’ won “the best film” award at Portobello International Film Festival in London UK and has been selected officially by 8 international film festivals beginning with Rotterdam Film Festival.