Renowned South African choreographer, academic researcher and theatre-maker jackï job presents a bold, new, provocative collaboration of performance and masterclasses that explore non-Western dance practices as a vehicle to unlock artistic engagement. 1-2-3 As One: A Japanese-South African Butoh Experience will be performed in December at The Little Theatre on Hiddingh Campus in Cape Town.

“Butoh has always been a dance that breaks rules and conventions. 1-2-3 As One is an excellent example of this,” says jackï job.

A bold, new, provocative collaboration

Accompanied by several masterclasses, this programme celebrates a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Butoh artists Mitsuyo Uesugi and Yukio Suzuki. Butoh is a form of Japanese contemporary dance theatre that uses slow, intense, powerful movement to explore the human condition and the question of what is beautiful.

For the first time in South Africa, these three Butoh dancers become one in a provocative synthesis of cultures, dance, and states of being. 1-2-3 As One explores the evolution of consciousness and awareness as living forces. This guides a new expression of movement and presence.

“This work asks: what do you see? What do you understand? The show moves inside and around these questions – shifting sensibilities, invoking dreams and revealing invisible worlds that are viscerally felt,” says jackï job.

Innovative collaboration of Butoh performances creates visionary dialogue between language and culture

This is Butoh reborn – through Africa. A shared pulse. A single breath. A new beginning. At its heart, 1-2-3 As One presents three Butoh solos that merge into one joint choreography. Each piece stands alone, yet all converge in a shared language of body and spirit.

“With Butoh, you do not have to have dance training or be an experienced artist. We invite anyone interested in self-knowledge, curious and engaged in the world to attend,” says jackï job.

The result is a work that is unique, professional, and artistically daring – a performance unlike anything previously seen on South African stages. Marking a new chapter in contemporary performance, this partnership also forges a visionary dialogue between Japan and Africa. Each is radically different, yet united in presence. Intimate in its directness and daring in its depth.

The work wanders into secret worlds

The work wanders into secret worlds, drawing audiences into a realm where imagination, vision, and dancing bodies intertwine. Mitsuyo Uesugi is one of Japan’s most revered Butoh masters, a direct artistic descendant of the form’s earliest pioneers. Yukio Suzuki’s mastery lies in his seamless interplay of stillness and dexterous speed – his movements are both meditative and breathtaking. He is a leading contemporary Butoh artist and choreographer known for his arresting blend of stillness, swiftness, and sculptural control.

jackï job has more than three decades of experience in the dance. Her work redefines the landscape of performance with an innovative and boundary-pushing signature that continues to enthral. She is a pioneer of Butoh on the African continent and a rare artist who bridges scholarly inquiry with visceral artistry.