‘Hyakki Yakou – A Night Walk of A Hundred Demons’ is a dance performance taking place during the Coastal Currents festival in Hastings, East Sussex. The piece is inspired by Durbar Hall at Hastings museum. Yumino Seki and company incorporate Butoh, light, soundscape and architecture to create a ‘kaleidoscopic illusion’ of the spine chilling yet comically depicted demonic spirits. Butoh is a Japanese avant-garde dance influenced by Japanese traditions as well as German Expressionism originated in late 50s in Japan. Butoh will inform the visceral and evocative investigation of the piece.
Working in partnership with Hastings museum and supported by Arts Council England ‘Hyakki Yakou’ will bridge and actively stimulate the cultural exchange between Britain and Japan.
This project is not about representing Japanese culture in Britain. It is about processing both cultures through a unique viewpoint of a Japanese Butoh practitioner who has resided in Britain for over 20 years.
Collaborating between Japanese and British artists, our aim is to develop a fusion of East and West and contemporary and traditional in an innovative dance arts form, which we hope, to inspire people widely.
This project is supported by Arts Council England and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. Please note, there is no performance on 27 September. Please check the festival website for times and dates. Image created by Fiona Pienkowska.
HYAKKI YAKOU Press release 2013 Yumino Seki
For more information please see the websites of
Hastings Museum and the festival Coastal Currents