Ma "間" : Exploring Presence, Space, and Silence in Japanese Performing Arts

interval/silenceIn this session, we will explore methods that apply the physical-spiritual techniques and forms of traditional Japanese performing arts, such as Noh and Kabuki theatre to Western dance and theater techniques, using the theme of “Silence.” Participants will experience the breathing techniques, focus and target of awareness, body usage, and stage presence techniques used by performers of traditional Japanese arts. They will then train in integrating these elements into their own dance and theater techniques. In traditional Japanese performing arts, “Silence,” or „Between“ known in Japanese as ma (間), plays a crucial role. Silence brings a poetic quality to the stage and transforms it into a space distinct from everyday life. It is also deeply connected to Buddhism and can sometimes induce a state similar to Zen meditation. This session will introduce how Silence is perceived and utilized in traditional Japanese performing arts while exploring ways to integrate it with Western physical theater and dance techniques. Through this fusion, participants will train in a completely new approach that they can apply to their practice. Participants will explore where to place their target of awareness, how the performer relates to space, and what the uniquely Japanese concept of ma (間 = “interval / silence / in-between”) means in practice. We also reference Zeami’s 600-year-old Noh theory to examine its compatibility with contemporary stage work.