A groundbreaking gathering is poised to reshape the landscape of Asian dance: The Asia Butoh Gathering (ABG) 2026. This inaugural festival, a collaboration between the Kapwa Movement and the Japan Foundation, Manila, will unfold in the first week of February, marking a historic moment for the art form.
More than just a series of performances, ABG is envisioned as a vital space for connection. It’s a chance for artists across borders to engage in dialogue, artistic research, and shared reflection, all expressed through the powerful language of movement. The theme, “Moving Roots, Moving Cultures,” beautifully coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Philippines.
For the first time, butoh practitioners from throughout Asia – Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines – will converge. This isn’t simply a showcase of skill; it’s an exploration of a shared Asian identity, revealed through the deeply personal and embodied experience of dance.
Butoh, born from the ashes of post-war Japan, often exists as a solitary practice. Many artists work in isolation, lacking access to a wider community and historical context. ABG aims to shatter that isolation, offering a rare and invaluable opportunity for collaboration and collective growth – a moment founder Sasa Cabalquinto calls “once in a blue moon.”
The festival asks a compelling question: how has butoh, initially a seed from Japan, taken root and flourished in diverse Asian landscapes? What unique forms has it assumed, reflecting the specific cultures and challenges of each region? It’s a story of adaptation, resilience, and the enduring power of artistic expression.
This year’s focus, “Butoh in the Time of Ecological Crisis,” resonates deeply with a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges. In the Philippines, particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, the Kapwa Movement has found butoh to be a powerful tool for reflection and a means of processing the earth’s fragility.
For artists like Vinci Mok from Hong Kong, butoh offers a pathway to healing and calm amidst turbulent times. Rooted in the hardships of post-war Japan, the practice provides a framework for navigating limitations and finding strength within constraint – a philosophy that translates powerfully to contemporary struggles.
The liberating potential of butoh is also highlighted by Xue from Singapore, where societal norms often discourage open bodily expression. The art form empowers individuals, particularly those without formal dance training, to reclaim their bodies and move with newfound freedom and confidence through collective experience.
The festival’s schedule includes a dynamic range of events. On February 6th, WhyNot Manila will host a crucial dialogue featuring speakers from nine Asian nations, moderated by Katrina Stuart Santiago, followed by a workshop led by Yuko Kawamoto. This promises a rich exchange of perspectives and embodied learning.
February 7th will feature a screening of the 84-minute film *Darkness Princess Bamboo*, offering a glimpse into the history of butoh, alongside lecture-presentations from esteemed Japanese masters Kae Ishimoto, Tenko Ima, and Yuko Kawamoto. The festival intentionally emphasizes the Japanese origins and ongoing efforts to share the art form across Asia.
The culmination of ABG will be a ticketed performance on February 7th at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City: *Falling Earth, Moving Sky*. This performance is a profound exploration of ancestry, land, and gender, a visceral response to a world in constant flux.
Ultimately, ABG isn’t just about watching dance; it’s about witnessing an embodied response to the unraveling and remaking of our world, and the profound impact it has on the human spirit. It’s a testament to the power of movement to connect, heal, and inspire in a time of urgent need.
