Riding the tube
Tetsuro Fukuhara's unique dance style has made fans worldwide, and China may be next, writes Julian Ryall
From Melbourne to Berlin, Singapore, Mexico City, Kampala, Istanbul and Havana, Tetsuro Fukuhara has strung his long tube of bright white material and danced.
Tens of thousands of people have joined him, pushing the physical boundaries of the flexible cocoon as he encourages them to develop their awareness of the human body and space, which he calls "Space Dance in the Tube".
I have huge respect for Chinese history and culture. I would like to explore the differences and similarities that exist between our two cultures
As Fukuhara, a second-generation butoh dancer, makes plans for his next international workshops and performances - this time to Chile, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico again - he has one huge regret: in all his years of dancing, he has never had an opportunity to share his passion for movement, for testing boundaries, for rhythm, with a Chinese audience or participants.
"As a Japanese, I am naturally very interested in sharing this [with] other Asian countries," the 65-year-old dancer says. "I have performed in many Asian cities before, but never in China or Hong Kong - and I hope that if my dream comes true, then it could be the source of many new and interesting cultural developments between us."
Six years ago, Fukuhara began "Space Dance in the Tube", which he describes as an exhibition, a workshop and a new performance of communication that is based on the whole body and brings together dance, architecture, information and design, but with its roots in butoh.