Kiryuho - Art of Movement Workshop. Master Kajo Tsuboi assisted by Teruomi Kuchina and Kyoko Sato. At the Choreographic Centre for Weereewa - Festival of Lake George Wed Feb 17, 1999.
Japanese theatre and training methods have influenced actors and dancers world-wide, but I, like most western drama teachers, had to rely on reading works such as The Way of Acting by Tadashi Suzuki, reading No plays and studying Zen. To meet Master Kajo and watch him teach was a privilege - and a humble admission to myself about how short a distance I had travelled along the road.
At least I think I was going in the right direction, towards the three R's: Relaxation, Realisation and Relationship. In three hours Master Kajo took people, of varying levels of experience, remarkably far - though he told me that even the best students take three years to absorb the lessons and be able to practice Kiryuho well.
Ki is the energy of the mind and body - physical and creative energy working together. Ryu is the streaming of energy - which can run free or be held back. Ho is the order or structure which we can give to the flow of the stream.
By using movement based on the shape of the mobius strip - in which infinity is represented by never-ending clockwise and anti-clockwise motion - Master Kajo taught how to observe the movement of all the body which follows the movement of one part; how this awareness creates relaxation, leading to realisation as one chooses to shift the lead to new parts of the body; and how this naturally allows good relationships to develop throughout the body. The result is strong and impressive movement, which is the basis not only of all acting and dance, but of healthy and effective relationships in life.
With the help of Andrew McNicol playing a ground note on didgeridoo, people created fascinating improvised movement which seemed to have no end after 45 minutes and could easily have gone on to become an extended group improvisation. Julie Rogers, who translated for us and organised the workshop, explained that this would happen in longer sessions.
Ring Mirramu Creative Arts Centre 02 6238 1492 to book for more Kajo workshops May 20-23.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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