Nakajima Natsu
Nakajima Natsu | |
|---|---|
| 中嶋夏 | |
| Born | 中島夏枝 Nakajima Natsue 1943 |
| Died | 4 March 2024 (aged 80–81) |
| Education | Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio |
| Occupations | |
| Dancing career | |
| Former groups | Muteki-sha |
| Dances | Butoh |
Nakajima Natsue (Japanese: 中島夏枝;1943 – 3 March 2024), know professionally as Nakajima Natsu (Japanese: 中嶋夏), was a Japanese dancer, choreographer and teacher, known for being one of the first female butoh dancers.[1][2][3] Nakajima founded the Muteki-sha dance group in 1969, and was a leading figure for physically integrated dance in Japan.[3]
Life and career
Nakajima Natsue was born in 1943 in Sakhalin, Empire of Japan (present-day Russia).[1][2][4][5]
In 1955, she began to study classical ballet, and entered the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio in 1962. Unlike her mentor and long-time collaborator Hijikata Tatsumi, Nakajima toured extensively outside of Japan and became not only one of the first female butoh dancers, but also one of the first to introduce the form to audiences outside of Japan.[6] She directed and choreographed the second-generation butoh dance group Muteki-sha.[7]
Nakajima appeared in films as well as theater productions, including Adachi Masao's 1969 film Sexual Play and the 1990 documentary Butoh: Body on the Edge of Crisis.[8]
On 3 March 2024, Nakajima died aged 80 in Mexico City.[1][9][10] At the time of her death, Nakajima had been working with the National Autonomous University of Mexico to deliver lectures, demonstrations and workshops on Butoh across Mexico.[9]
Dance philosophy
Nakajima, like most butoh choreographers, resisted literal interpretations or expressions of the dance's gestures.[11] However, she articulated her dance philosophy, emphasizing the energy and freedom of butoh. Natsu said "Butoh should reject any notion of symbolism, message, or formalism, and only express its energy and freedom. It is not art that I aspire to, but love."[12]
References
- ^ a b c "Nakajima, Natsu: Natsue Nakajima, 1943-2024". Library of Congress Name Authority File. Washington, D.C: Library of Congress. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ a b "舞踏家の中嶋夏さん死去 舞踏創始者の土方巽らに師事、国際的に活動". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Osaka, Japan. 6 March 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Nakajima, Natsu". Mediathek für Tanz und Theater. Berlin: Mime Centrum Berlin. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ Klein, Susan (1989). Ankoku Butoh: The Premodern and Postmodern Influences on the Dances of Utter Darkness. Cornell University East Asia Papers. p. 55.
- ^ Cornell University East Asia Papers, vol. 49–50, Ithaca, New York: East Asia Program, Cornell University, 1982
- ^ George-Graves, Nadine (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Theater. Oxford University Press. p. 551.
- ^ Klein, Susan (1989). Ankoku Butoh. Cornell University East Asia Papers. p. 55.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0620048/
- ^ a b "Obituary: Natsu Nakajima (1943-2024)". Natsu Nakajima & Mutekisha Dance Company. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
Natsu Nakajima passed away on March 3rd in 2024 at age 80.
- ^ "Births, marriages and deaths: March 8, 2024". The Times. London. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ Klein, Susan (1989). Ankoku Butoh. Cornell East Asia Papers. p. 21.
- ^ George-Graves, Nadine (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Theater. Oxford University Press. p. 551.