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天 児 牛 大 AMAGATSU Ushio
Director Choreographer Designer
©Shintaro Shiratori
Born in Yokosuka,Japan in 1949 and founded Butoh company Sankai Juku in 1975.
He created Amagatsu Sho (1977), Kinkan Shonen (1978), Sholiba (1979) before the first world tour i
1980. Since 1981, France and The Theatre de la
Ville,Paris has become his places for creation and
work and that year he created Bakki for Festival d'Avignon. The Theatre de la Ville,Paris he has created
14 productions since 1982.
Amagatsu also works independently outside Sankai Juku. In 1988 he created “Fushi” on the invitation of
Jacob's Pillow Foundation, in the U.S., with music by
Philip Glass. In 1989, he was appointed Artistic Director of the Spiral Hall in Tokyo where he directed
“Apocalypse” (1989), and “Fifth-V” (1990).
In February 1997, he directed “Bluebeard's Castle” by
Bartok conducted by Peter Eotvos at Tokyo International Forum. In March 1998, at Opera National de Lyon, France, he directed Peter EOTVOS's opera
“Three Sisters” (world premiere), which received
“Prix du Syndicat National de la Critique, France.”
“Three Sisters” has been seen in the 2001-2002 season at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, at Theatre
Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels at Opera National de
Lyon, and at Wiener Festwochen 2002 in Austria.
In March 2008, Amagatsu directed “Lady Sarashina,”
Peter EOTVOS’s new opera at Opera National de Lyon
(world premiere). “Lady Sarashina” again received
“Prix du Syndicat National de la Critique, France” and
it was seen in Opera Comique in February 2009 and
in Teatr Wielki, Polish National Opera, in Warsaw in
April 2013.
Amagatsu has also presided on the jury of International Choreographic Competition of National
Academy of Dance, Italy (2011), and the Jury of the
International Meeting of Dance of Bagnolet (1992).
Awards and merits include the Purple-Ribbon Medal by
the Japanese government (2011), Geijyutsu Sensho
Prize (Art Encouragement Prize) by the Minister of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology
(2004).
Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Letters by
French Cultural Ministry (1992).
Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French Cultural Ministry (2014).
Books include "Ushio Amagatsu, des rivages d'enfance au buto de Sankai Juku" (Biography dictated by Kyoko Iwaki, Actes Sud, 2013, France). "Dilogue avec la Gravite"(Actes Sud, 2000, France).
1949
born in Yokosuka City, Japan
1972
co-founded Dairakudakan
1975
founded Sankai Juku
1977
created "AMAGATSU SHO" (HOMAGE TO ANCIENT DOLLS)
1978
created "KINKAN SHONEN"
1979
created "SHOLIBA"
1980
the first world tour
1981
created "BAKKI" (premiered at Avignon Festival, France)
1982
created "JOMON SHO" (co-produced by and premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
KINKAN SHONEN received the Grand Prix at the Belgrade International Theatre Festival and the Rose Prize by the newspaper TZ at the Munich Theatre Festival.
1984
created "NETSU NO KATACHI" (co-produced by and premiered atTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1985
direction & choreography for the photo book "LUNA"
1986
created "UNETSU - The Egg stands out of Curiosity" (co-produced by and premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1987
direction & choreography for the photo book "THE EGG STANDS OUT OF CURIOSITY"
1988
created "FUSHI" at Jacob’s Pillow, the U.S., music by Philip Glass
created "SHIJIMA - The Darkness Calms Down in Space" (co-produced by and premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1989
Artistic Director of SPIRAL HALL (Tokyo)
created "APPOCALYPSE", a collaboration with Composer TAKASHI KAKO and Dancer ISMAEL IVO at Spiral Hall, Tokyo
1990
created "FIFTH-V" at Spiral Hall (performed by six American dancers)
1991
created "OMOTE - The Grazed Surface" (co-produced by Theatre de la Ville, Paris; Ginza Saison Theatre, Tokyo. Premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1992
president of the judge for Les Rencontres Internationales de Bagnolet 1992
1993
created "YURAGI - In a Space of Perpetual Motion" (co-produced byTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS, Paris; Ginza Saison Theatre, Tokyo; CNDC l’Esquisse, Angers. Premiered atTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1995
created "HIYOMEKI - Within a Gentle Vibration and Agitation" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Ginza Saison Theatre, Tokyo; Theatre Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Scene Nationale. cooperated by CNDC l’Esquisse, Angers. Premiered atTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
1997
directed Bartok’s opera"BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE" conducted by Peter EOTVOS, in Tokyo
directed Takashi KAKO concert"Layers of Colour" in Tokyo
1998
directed Peter EOTVOS's opera,"THREE SISTERS" world premiered at OPERA NATIONAL DE LYON
It received "Prix du Syndicat National de la Critique, France."
created "HIBIKI - Resonance from Far Away" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; University of Iowa, Hancher Auditorium; Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Shiga, Japan. Premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
2010
created "KAGEMI - Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors" (co-produced byTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Shiga, Japan. Premiered atTHEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
2002
HIBIKI received the 26th Laurence Olivier Awards in category of Best New Dance Production
president of judge for Toyota Choreography Award 2002
2003
created "UTSURI - Virtual Garden" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Shiga, Japan. Premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
president of judge for Toyota Choreography Award 2003
2004
president of judge for Toyota Choreography Award 2004
received Geijyutsu Sensho Prize (Art Encouragement Prize) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology
2005
re-created"KINKAN SHONEN"
created "TOKI - A moment in the weave time" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Japan. Premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
2007
TOKI received Grand Prix of the 6th The Asahi Performing Arts Awards
2010
created" Kara・Mi - Two Flows" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Japan. Premiered at THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS)
2011
presided on the jury of International Choreographic Competition of National Academy of Dance, Italy
received the Purple-Ribbon Medal by the Japanese government
2012
created" UMUSUNA - Memories before History" (co-produced by Biennale de la Danse, Lyon; THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Japan. Premiered at OPERA de LYON)
2013
Sankai Juku received the Japan Foundation Awards
2015
created" MEGURI - Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Japan. Premiered at Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center)
2018
re-created"UNETSU - The Egg stands out of Curiosity"
2019
created" Arc - Chemin du Jour" (co-produced by THEATRE DE LA VILLE, PARIS; Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Japan. Premiered at Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center)
※Sankai Juku's productions