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Kazuo Ohno大野一雄

Kazuo Ohno

Studied under Takaya Eguchi and Miyako Misa in 1930s. After engaged in the World War 2nd for 9 years, he restarted to learn modern dance and held the first recital in 1949. In the late 50s, he worked together with Tatsumi Hijikata to create revolutionary dance style which would be called "Butoh" later. In 1977, Ohno performed "Admiring La Argentina" to honor Antonia Merce, a Spanish dancer whose dance he had seen some 50 years before. This piece was well received and made the way for his debut abroad. His first recital abroad realized in 1980 when he was 73 years old. His style shocked the dance world and has gave tremendous influence since then. His studio in Yokohama received many workshop participants from all over the world to learn butoh.

Basic Information

ID
PER2
Born
27 October 1906 Hakodate
Died
1 June 2010 Yokohama
Profession(s)
Butoh dancer,Director
Nationality
Japanese

Short Biography

1906　 Born on October 27th in Hakodate, Hokkaido
1929   Saw “La Argentina” Antonia Mercé’s performance at Tokyo’s Imperial Theater
1938-45  Called up into the military to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant, and later as a captain in Northern China and New Guinea
The war ended in New Guinea’s Soron Island. He spent a year in detention in Menakawari
1949   Established the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio. The first Kazuo Ohno Modern Dance Recital at Kyoritsu Kodo Hall in Tokyo
1960   Danced as Divine and Maldoror in the Tatsumi Hjikata Dance Experience at the Daiichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo
1965   Danced his one and only duo with Tatsumi Hijikata in Ankoku Butoh Performance “A Rose Colored Dance” at the Sennichidani Commemorial Hall in Tokyo
1967   Retired from his teaching position and continued working part-time as the repairman at the Soshin Baptist School 
1969   Collaborated with the filmmaker Chiaki Nagano in the making of “Portrait of Mr.O”　
1971 　Worked on the 2nd of Chiaki Nagano’s trilogy, “Mandala of Mr.O”
1973   Started to work on the 3rd of the Trilogy, “Mr. O’s Book of the Dead,” which took 3 years to complete
1977   Premiered “Admiring La Argentina” at the Daiichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo, directed by Tatsumi Hijikata
1980   Retired from Soshin Baptist School. Participated in the 14th Nancy International Theater Festival in France, which was to be his first overseas performance. Presented “Admiring La Argentina” and “A Table or a Dream of a Fetus”
1981   The first tour in New York
1982   Toured in Europe
1983   Toured in Italy and Israel, where Kazuo visited the Dead Sea　
1985   Premiered “The Dead Sea: Viennese Waltzes and Ghosts” directed by Tatumi Hijikata, and co-performed with his son Yoshito Ohno
1986   Toured in Australia, Brazil and Europe　
1987   Premiered “Water Lilies” in the Stuttgart World Theatre Festival, directed and co-performed by Yoshito Ohno
1990   Premiered “Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu (Flowers-Bird-Wind-Moon)” in Cremona, Italy
Performed inside and outside of Japan passionately.
1999    “A Requiem for the 20th Century” in New York, which was to be his final overseas performance
2001   The last solo performance “Flower” at the Shinjuku Park Tower Hall. 
2002   The Kazuo Ohno Archives opened at Bologna University, Italy
2003   “The Songs we learnt from our Mother” at the Kanamori Hall in his hometown, Hakodate
2004   The Yearly Kazuo Ohno Festival began at BankART 1929
2006   Many events were held to celebrate his centenary birthday all over the world
2007   “Hyakkaryouran Gala Concert” at the Kanagawa Prefectural Seishonen Center Hall to celebrate his centenary
2010    Passed away on June 1st

Awards

1999　Michelangelo Antonioni Art Prize

2001  3rd Oribe Award Grand Prix

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