Butoh Festival Explores Tradition and Contemporary in Genoa

The ninth edition of Testimonianze ricerca azioni, a festival dedicated to Butoh dance, took place in Genoa, Italy, organized by Teatro Akropolis with artistic direction by Clemente Tafuri and David Beronio. The program included a conference, three performances, and a photography exhibition. Notable participants were Imre Thorman, a direct student of Butoh founder Kazuo Ohno, who performed 'Enduring Freedom'; Masaki Iwana, a world-renowned Butoh dancer, who presented 'Vie de Ladyboy Ivan Ilitch'; and Alessandra Cristiani, a performer and former director of the international Butoh festival Trasform'azioni, who performed 'Clorofilla'. The photography exhibition featured works by Alberto Canu, Emilio D'Itri, and Samantha Marenzi, who also curated and spoke at the conference. Other speakers included Matteo Casari and Elena Cervellati. The festival explored the relationship between Butoh's tradition and contemporary forms, addressing themes of memory, body, and image.