Step into a surreal night with ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II at Abbotsford Convent.
Presented by Abbotsford Convent and Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne, ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II invites audiences to experience a hypnotic night of Butoh, cabaret, and surreal nightclub magic. Running from 5 to 9 March 2025, this world premiere event immerses attendees in an otherworldly setting at the Abbotsford Convent’s Industrial School and Sacred Heart Courtyard.
ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II
- Dates: 5 – 9 March 2025
- Venue: Industrial School and Sacred Heart Courtyard, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Dates and times
- Wednesday, 5 March at 7:30 pm (preview)
- Thursday, 6 March at 7:30 pm (opening night)
- Friday, 7 March at 7:30 pm
- Saturday, 8 March at 7:30 pm
- Sunday, 9 March at 7:30 pm
Ticket prices
- Butoh Lovers!: $40
- General: $35
- Concession: $25
- Preview: $20
- Mob Tix*: $20
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Led by acclaimed Butoh artist Yumi Umiumare, this edition of ButohBAR features performances that celebrate Butoh’s captivating presence in Japanese nightclubs of the 1970s and 80s. With a cast that includes renowned Japanese Butoh master Atsushi Takenouchi and local talents, the event is set to blend hypnotic dance, roving installations, out-of-order karaoke, and guerrilla performances. Guests can also enjoy exquisite sake and cuisine provided by Tamura Sake Bar.
ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II promises to be an unforgettable exploration of chaos and beauty, merging ritualistic art with spine-tingling performances.
Yumi Umiumare, a pioneering Butoh dancer and the artistic director of ButohOUT!, has established a unique style that intertwines visceral emotions with cultural identity. Recognised for her social art practices and spiritual works, Yumi has become a key figure in Melbourne’s Butoh scene. Taka Takiguchi, her co-creator of ButohOUT!, brings years of experience blending art with social work, advocacy, and trance dance practices.
What is Butoh?
Butoh is an avant-garde form of Japanese dance theatre that emerged in the late 1950s, often characterised by its slow, controlled movements and intense physical expression. Created by artists Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, Butoh was developed as a reaction to Western influences and traditional Japanese dance forms, aiming to explore themes of existentialism, transformation, and the human psyche.
Butoh performances are typically surreal, challenging, and deeply emotive. Dancers often paint their bodies white, contort their faces and bodies, and use exaggerated, sometimes grotesque gestures to express inner states and explore taboo subjects like death, identity, and rebirth. Rather than following a set of formal steps, Butoh embraces improvisation and invites dancers to delve deeply into raw emotion and visceral experiences.
For an unforgettable night celebrating the strange beauty of Butoh, visit the Asia TOPA website here.
