17-18 May, 2025 (find reviews below)
Saturday from (doors open at 10:30) 11:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 20:30
Sunday from (doors open at 10:30) 11:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 20:30
Address: Park Studio, Am Treptower Park 42, 12435 Berlin, Deutschland
Description:
What is to give shape to an essential quality, to a certain soul or nature capable of creating a world? What is to host a spirit in your body? What is to turn your body into a new being? Butoh is about metamorphosis, but how do we recognise it? Hoping to find answers but always failing to, these questions will guide our exploration.
When we follow the most subtle sensations, the most delicate dreams our dances are most powerful, because to be fragile one needs an immense strength.
This workshop has been inspired in my latest creation Klara K. that was premiered in Helsinki Butoh Festival and will travel to Vienna Butoh Festival this autumn, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/hu50fLVvD2U?si=CK2MjIPy9x_IK65T
What more to expect?
- Unlocking the movement of the spine
- Deep work with the imagination
- Investigation of two elements: rock and water and their interplay in butoh choreographic creation
- Exploring facial expressions and how they affect the body
- Various exercises in duos
- Group work and improvisations (the last hour of the day will be an open stage always guided by me and supported by a welcoming environment that we will create together) OR work on final small individual creations, depending on how we feel
- Relaxation techniques, Naguchi Taiso inspired exercises
- Personalised feedback, if asked for
Prices:
130€ early bird
150€ normal price
[I have been asked several times if the early bird price can be payed in two halves, 50€ to confirm your spot and in May the rest. For me, the payment of the full price represents the security that you will definitely come on the 17-18th of May. However, if you cannot pay the early bird price in one bit but you definitely intend to come, you can send 50€ now to confirm your spot and the rest in May.]
Register by writing to my email: sofyashaikut@gmail.com
What students said about the workshop:
“Dancing Butoh with Sofya was wonderful. I felt very comfortable and was able to surrender to vulnerable parts of myself. The partner exercises were deeply relaxing and created a wholesome atmosphere. I don’t know what I enjoyed more, dancing myself or watching others dance and unfold. The workshop left me with a very grounded feeling and inspired me to explore butoh further. ” — Carlotta
“Sofya is the most sensible Butoh dancer/ facilitator I’ve experienced. The way she guides dancers is so clear and intuitive-it really helped me connect with my emotions and sensibilities in a way I hadn’t been able to before. She created a space where everyone felt safe, seen, and free to be vulnerable. And at the same time, the workshop was fun-we had some laughs, which made it feel light even when we were exploring deep stuff. One of the most powerful moments for me was when she helped each one of us channel their inner “Butoh monster E.” It helped me access emotions from my subconscious and give form to them -writing them down, visualizing them, and then bringing them to life through Butoh. It was honestly the first time I felt I could reach those layers within myself. I’m really grateful for the experience.” — Rand
I deeply appreciated Sofyas soft, sensitive and quiet approach of giving space and time to this exploration of giving birth to a soul that lives within, to feel, to sense its presence of already there but not yet here, to facilitate, to surrender to one’s sensations, to let become what wants be out of itself, to explore the familiar unknown. I could experience that birthing is a listening to the unknown, the senses and the body. Sensing the relation of giving birth and being born as something inhibiting one’s body, once you prepare to give birth which means to listen to your sensations and move out of pleasure listening to the conversation inbetween. Thank you so much for your intricate abilties to host such a beautiful encounter. — Flora
Butoh workshop ‘Birthing a soul’ gave inspiration, a longing for deep presence.
The season just passed of the hunt of your eggs and new born.
I see none is around.
Are they gone with them?
I recall they came at dawn, silent as rats climbing until reaching our caves, as you did but I know you.
I recall they came at dawn, silent as rats climbing until reaching our caves, as you did but I know you.
At dawn the eggs gloom and catch the last sunshine, then our caves can be seen from far.
They must have been mapping our light.
This time I used mirrors to catch the sunlight gathering those scattered.
None were here when they came.
I, as other elders of our kind devoured their curse in return, none survived.
I won't tell you how many we are but we are rising. — Ana
