Dance Dramaturgy as a Process of Learning: koosil-ja’s mech[a] OUTPUT

Abstract

Noh Theatre is officially recognised as a national property of Japan. Historically, classic Noh Theatre values are a closed tradition/system that makes it very difficult for contemporary audiences to appreciate a performance without sufficient cultural background or knowledge of the traditions that inform the production’s content. In order to facilitate meaningful access to traditional Noh for a wider audience, the media performance of koosil-ja’s mech[a]OUTPUT connects the closed traditions of Noh Theatre to our contemporary lives. To make this connection, the project considers the body as a primary site for the emancipation of both the dancer and the audience from the restrictions inherent in traditional Noh Theatre. This media project facilitates both traditional Noh and contemporary techniques so that the performance’s reception may move towards familiar contemporary values while making visible what has traditionally been invisible.