Sankai Juku is an internationally renowned butoh dance troupe co-founded by Amagatsu Ushio in 1975. Since its inception, the group has toured globally, performing in 43 countries and over 700 cities by 2010. Amagatsu, who trained in both classical and modern dance, serves as the troupe's director, choreographer, designer, and dancer. He developed a "second-generation" Butoh style that emphasizes a dialogue with gravity, contrasting with other dance forms that aim to defy it. Butoh, originally known as "ankoku butoh" or "dance of darkness," emerged from the Japanese avant-garde of the 1960s, reflecting the nation's post-war trauma and the atomic bomb's legacy. Amagatsu's work captures the tensions of butoh while enveloping them in a mood of emotional stillness.
Sankai Juku's performances feature all-male dancers with shaved heads and bodies covered in white powder, dressed in minimalist costumes or partially unclothed. Their style is characterized by slow, hypnotic movements, often repetitive and involving the entire body, with moments of stillness that create a meditative atmosphere. The choreography often includes contorted body shapes and facial expressions conveying intense emotions, from ecstasy to pain. The troupe's performances are further enhanced by minimalistic stage designs, nuanced lighting, and a range of soundscapes, from dynamic drumming and electronic music to natural sounds and periods of silence, creating an ethereal and mesmerizing experience for the audience.
UNETSU is the first DVD by Sankai Juku.
