In search of Shirabyōshi

Abstract: This text is a winding wandering between Swedish and Japanese performance cultures. I have examined the performing arts by living, examining, learning, travelling, meeting, creating, and recounting examples and events from my experiences. I have compared my own experiences with historical sources and the knowledge of traditional and contemporary performers. With movement as my most important perspective, I have built up the text as a travelogue with an essayistic approach. Ancient texts, and the practical studies of traditional pieces from the Japanese dance and theatre repertoire have supported the composing of two very different performances related to the ancient cross-gender performers Shirabyōshi. I have tried to understand and compare their situation with my own from historical, artistic, political and religious point of views. It has been a form of hermeneutical process where I have uncovered new understanding while things were made visible.