Monthly Archives: March 2009

Julie in Japan

I just received the 2008-09 NC Choreography Fellowship and will be going to Japan June 16 – September 15 to study butoh. At the present I am arranging housing.  I am planning to stay in Yokohama near Kazuo Ohno’s studio where I will be studying 3 days a week.  I have also been in touch with  Akaji Maru (director of Dairakudakan) and Semimaru (director of Sankai Juku) and plan to take their workshops in August.  Natsu Nakajima worked with Hijikata during the early years of butoh and is still an active force in the world of international butoh. I  have connected with her and arranged to study in Tokyo.

I am so excited and a little nervous about my impending visit to Japan. I know it will be a time of personal growth for me as an artist. Though I have been studying Japanese, the language is quite difficult; I am an old dog and it is hard to learn a new trick.

“Butoh History in Asheville” (1997-the present)

  • "Alchemy" performed at Galapagos Art Space, NY

    "Alchemy" performed at Galapagos Art Space, NY

    1997    Julie Becton Gillum (JBG), Susan and Giles Collard attended Min Tanaka’s performance based on the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe, PS 122, New York

  • 1998    GooSayTen, featuring Itto Morita and Mika Takeuchi, workshop and performance at BeBe Theatre
  • 1998-2002     (5 summers) JBG attends San Francisco Butoh Festival
  • 2000   (May) Soul Motion concert produced by JD Project (JBG and Dana Davis) at YMI Cultural Center, Premiere of “Cairn” (first butoh choreography by JBG)
  • 2000   1st Asheville Butoh Festival with guest artists Itto Morita, Mika Takeuchi and Goo Say Ten at BeBe Theatre
  • 2001    2nd Asheville Butoh Festival with performances by JBG, butohmoshpitt (Jenni Cockrell and Shawn Oldham), Susan and Giles Collard
  • 2002   (July) Last year of San Francisco Butoh Festival, JBG invited to perform “Cairn” at the festival opening in Yerba Buena Gardens
  • 2003   (July) JBG performs “Mound” at American Dance Festival, “Opening Acts”
  • 2003   3rd Asheville Butoh Festival with guest artist Diego Pinon, workshop and performance at BeBe Theatre
  • 2004   (March) Asheville Butoh Festival, BeBe Theatre, guest Diego Pinon performance and workshops, Butohmoshpit, Mound
  • 2004   An Evening of Dance, BeBe Theatre, premiere of “Keng-San-Ku” conceived and directed by JBG
  • 2004   (August) JBG attends workshop with Diego Pinon, Tlalpujahua, Mexico
  • 2004   (September) JBG performs “Mound” and “Nuclear Family, butohmoshpit performs “Wedding,” Moving Women perform “Moon,” @ LAAFF, Asheville
  • 2004   (October) Diego Pinon in residence teaching workshops, Eagles Home Studio
  • 2004   (October) JBG performs “Mound” at “onearmred” New York
  • 2005   (January) JBG directs “Feather” installation for Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, Wedge Gallery, Asheville
  • 2005   (February) “Keng-San-Ku,”choreographed by JBG, performed by Jenni Cockrell @ NC Dance Festival, Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville
  • 2005   (April) JBG performs “Stair Piece” for Red Night Cabaret @ Eagles Home Studio
  • 2005   (June) JBG performs “Haiku Spring” @ Morganton Arts Festival
  • 2005   (July) JBG attends workshop with Diego Pinon, Tlalpujahua, Mexico
  • 2005   (September) Julie performs “Mound” at Chicago Cultural center (3 performances) and at the Spare Room, Chicago (2    performances)
  • 2005   (October) “Welcome To Butoh” Tryon, NC, a series of butoh pieces choreographed by JBG, produced by Michael McCue – premiere of “Alchemy” at Tryon Arts Center; “Haiku” performed at Blue Ridge Community College; “Cairn” performed at Rogers Park amphitheatre; “Mound” private performance for members of Upstairs Gallery
  • 2005   (October) JBG performs solo version of “Alchemy” for NY Butoh Festival, Galapagos Art Space
  • 2005   (October) Julie performs “Alchemy” solo in the Nightmare Cabaret @ the Grey Eagle in Asheville
  • 2005   (November) JBG performs solo “Alchemy” @ BeBe Theatre with Julia Taylor performing “Embrace”
  • 2005   (November) full “Alchemy” performed at WWC
  • 2006   (January) JBG performs solo “Alchemy” @ Jolie Rouge Pirate Cabaret
  • 2006   (February) JBG performs “Butap” for NC Dance Festival, Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville
  • 2006   (March) JBG attends workshop /rehearsal for Monarch Project with Diego Pinon and workshop with Yumiko Yoshioka, Chicago
  • 2006   (April) JBG works with Kathy Myers students at Asheville School on a production of “Masque of the Red Death”
  • 2006   (July) JBG produces “Butoh and Beyond” with guest artists: butohmoshpit, Rachel Finan, Lani Fand-Weissbach, and Crystal Sabbagh
  • 2006   (August) JBG attends workshop /rehearsal for Monarch Project with Diego Pinon, Tlalpujahua, Mexico
  • 2006   (September) Legacy Butoh performs “Funeral For America” @ LAAFF, Asheville
  • 2006   (September) Legacy Butoh performs “Funeral For America” @ WWC
  • 2006   (September) Legacy Butoh performs “Trio” and “Maze” for River Sculpture Festival, Amboy Road River Park
  • 2007   (January) JBG directs “Butoh Buddies” performed at Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
  • 2007   (April) Julia Taylor performs “Embrace” @ BeBe Theatre, Asheville
  • 2007   (May)”Butoh and Beyond? at WWC guest artists “Moving Women”
  • 2007   (June) Legacy Butoh (JBG and Elisa Faires) produces film for URTV, Asheville
  • 2007   (September) “Pledge” premiered at River Sculpture Festival
  • 2007   (October) Tina Ford-Cox, JBG, Manon Manavit, Mike McCue, and Julia Taylor attend NY Butoh Festival
  • 2008   (December) JBG attend workshop at Butoh Ritualo Mexicano with Diego Pinon, Tlalpujahua, Mexico
  • 2008   (January) JBG performs “Haiku-War and Peace” (with dove release) at Vance Monument for Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
  • 2008   (January) “Pledge” Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
  • 2008   (May) JBG performs “Haiku Spring” @ Four Seasons Arts Council, fundraiser, Hendersonville
  • 2008   (June) JBG attend workshop with Tadishi Endo, Cave, New York
  • 2008   (July) JBG performs “Pledge” for Butoh Across Generations, Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon, New York; teaches workshop at Joyce Soho
  • 2008   (September) Monarch Project, directed by Diego Pinon, premieres in Chicago at School of the Art Institute and Osaka Park
  • 2008   (October) “outthereouthere” with John Crutchfield, directed by Ron Bashford, performance at NC Stage Catalyst Series
  • 2008   (October)  JBG in residence @ U. of Iowa – workshop and performance of “Pledge” and “Butap”
  • 2008   (October) Butoh Halloween installation for “Haunted Busride,” Lazoom Bus
  • 2008   (September) JBG performs “Blessing” for the opening of the River Sculpture Festival, Reynold’s Mountain Park
  • 2008   (October) JBG performs “Tunnel” @ River Sculpture Festival, Reynolds Mountain Park
  • 2008   (November) The Monarch Project, directed by Diego Pinon, workshop and performance of “Mariposa” at Warren Wilson College
  • 2009   (January) Premiere of “Zombie Jesus,” with music by Marcus Chatfield and Duke Ramuten, Lazoom Bus Tour, Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
  • 2009   (February) JBG performs butoh improvisation for “Voicing BMC: The Women” @ Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center
  • 2009   (April) JBG hosts Maureen “MOMO” Freehill in Asheville, workshop at Warren Wilson College and performance at Sacred Embodiment Center, 31 Carolina Lane