Butoh: Metamorphic Dance and Global Alchemy Paperback – Illustrated, September 9, 2010

This was the third book I read on the subject and it was hard getting through although it does get better as you get going.It's all about academics: for some reason the author seems to think that proper credentials mean it's real dance. All the credentials she gives for every description of the dancers and/or their performances make the work boring and dry. I wanted to read something evocative, descriptive, poetic, imaginative and inspiring. Instead I got to know who studied where and with whom and whose famous sets, decor or costumes they used.. As a dancer (who is not famous but continues to dance nonetheless) this was dry and un-inspiring and un-helpful. As I got further into the book it did get better..and some interesting photos in there . I would recommend the book about Kazuo Ohno way WAY more. (Kazuo Ohno / Yoshito Ohno) Now that one will inspire you and make you dance in ways you didn't know you had in you!!

Just a must.

This book does not fulfill the promise of its title. I was looking forward to some real insights into butoh's 'global alchemy'and how it is a relevant art form for the 21st century but there were none. There was a great deal of repetition, snd some brief skimming impressions which were always the author's personal outlook with no conflicting ideas discussed. No new propositions or challenges were advanced regarding the role of butoh within the arts. The majority of the book is made up of descriptions of performances some of them written only in the author's poetry form which I found hard to read and did not give me any strong impressions of the performances being discussed.This book is pleasant if you are looking for some basic information and details of current artists in contemporary butoh. If you are looking for in depth analysis, ideas and concepts related to the radical art form that is butoh, I wouldn't recommend this book.I have read a previous book by this author which I have enjoyed.

The most comprehensive work on Butoh in English, well written, historical, philosophical, and poetic. Fraleigh does for Butoh what John Martin did for Martha Graham. She makes this dance form understandable and puts it on the global map.