In 1996 I saw the deep similarities between butoh dance and Poekoelan (Indonesian-American Kung Fu).

A few other Evergreen students explored both, but I pursued Poekoelan as far as I could. I was one of two top ranked students. Frankly, I was second in the class to Mitch Belote. His devotion was matchless. I, however, spent my other credits in the dance department and gradually more and more with doranne crable's butoh troupe, Kagami (the Japanese word for mirror).

Laurie Meeker described Poekoelan as a 'broken mirror system'. Each practitioner brought their own individuality to the style. The similarities (or synchronicities) continued right up until the end of my time with those teachers.

I often envisioned a meeting between the two groups.

Here are some notes from the last millennium, written with an actual typewriter on a recycled Dance O' Dance flier in which I find parallel or complementary choreography for the 'critters' and the 'practitioners'.

• cane routine
• two matched groups x-legged
• one set "hollows" forward, the other "bows"
• one rises, one explodes up
• one pairs to mirrors for "honoring", one in fours for slap downs
• seaweed, crawl (circling, throwing kicks and punches, etc.)
• egg (hanging bodies), low tiger
• baby monkey, monkey
• cobra, snake
• fossil, lazy crane
• lantern moon, parries
• boy, snake
• man, drunken monkey
• world hangover, flips
• drool, kiay!s
• shattering (breaking strings), choke on floor (on stomach) (BOWLING FOR BUTOH)
• egg roll, tiger roll
• old dog (touch belts and sashes), monkey slap head
• girl and prophecy, tiger stance and rake (mouths)
• hanging woman, snake (EYE STRINGS)
• niiko, crane
• egg in, full nelson
• bird foot to throat, arm twist
• boy, falls
• girl in heels, scissors and dance of life
• waltzing drunken leaves, butterfly kicks
• kabe, opening stance
• offering, slap out
  

I've been brainstorming about the Kagami butoh reunion. Critters from the four corners of the globe will be spending their precious life energy and fossil fuel to attend.

I'm going on a diet.