This is grotesque/creepy/awesome.

Butoh, performed in slow, unique movements by dancers, with their bodies painted white and bent-forward, is an antithesis of the traditional Western dance. As the only remaining footage in color of his performance, the film shows Hijikata as an eternal punker, rebel, and sufferer.

Natsu No Arashi aka Summer Storm (1973)

Director / Editor: Arai Misao
Choreographer: Tatsumi Hijikata

“A Summer Storm by Hijikata Tatsumi” primarily consists of the legendary Japanese dancer Hijikata Tatsumi’s legendary performance shot in Kyoto in 1973, and is a tribute to this extraordinary talent. Now, thirty years later, it is still funny, sad, and infinitely gripping. Hijikata was the pioneer of the reputed Butoh dance. Butoh, performed in slow, unique movements by dancers, with their bodies painted white and bent-forward, is an antithesis of the traditional Western dance. As the only remaining footage in color of his performance, the film shows Hijikata as an eternal punker, rebel, and sufferer.

Arai’s filmmaking career started in 1962 as an assistant director at Toei’s film studio in Kyoto after he graduated from Tokyo University. For the next ten years he worked as a director until he started working for Toei’s Tokyo Head Office. His major works include the critically acclaimed “The Case of the Missing Co-Ed”. In 1981, Arai played a key role in the shooting on location in Kyoto of United Artist’s horror film, “The House Where Evil Dwells”, as its Japanese coordinator. Arai’s involvement with Hijikata started when he promoted the latter’s legendary Kyoto performance, which he filmed into what was later to become “A Summer Storm by Hijikata Tatsumi”. Arai also promoted the first Japanese performance of Merce Cunningham & Dance Company and John Cage in Kyoto in 1976, achieving the record attendance at the time of 4,000 audience, establishing the company’s reputation in Japan. In 1992, Arai left Toei to start working independently, and commenced “A Summer Storm by Hijikata Tatsumi” project.

text and video via ubu.com