Butoh: How to Be Present and Have Presence

A 5-week workshop series led by Dwayne Lawler as part of Critical Practice.

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DATES

30 JULY – 27 AUGUST 2025
WEDNESDAYS
6:30PM - 8:30PM

30 JULY, 6 AUGUST, 13 AUGUST, 20 AUGUST, 27 AUGUST

LOCATION
THE DRILL HALL, CRITICAL PATH
1C NEW BEACH ROAD, DARLING POINT, NSW, 2027
GADIGAL & BIRRABIRRAGAL COUNTRY

PRICE:
SINGLE CLASS: $30 (+ booking fee)
5-WEEK PASS: $120 (+ booking fee)
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FROM THE ARTIST

This series covers the fundamentals of Butoh training including the use of imagery, visualisation techniques and ‘choreo-impro’ (improvisation within a structured pattern of movements) to develop the states of 'being present' and 'having presence'.

Areas include how to:

· Be present and have presence

· Turn your presence on and off

· Improve concentrated focus

· Embody the presence of objects

· Develop sensory, physical and spatial awareness

· Enhance psycho-physical discipline

· Distribute and project energy

· 'De-domesticate' your bodymind

· Devise a Butoh piece

The series will culminate in solo and group presence performances. Open to anyone with an interest in Butoh.

ABOUT DWAYNE LAWLER

Dwayne Lawler is an actor, martial artist and Butoh specialist. He studied Butoh in Japan under Yoshito Ohno, Yukio Waguri, Saga Kobayashi, Kayo Mikami, Natsu Nakajima, Yuko Kawamoto, Seisaku and Yuri Nagaoka [Dance Medium] and Dairakudakan. He has a PhD specialising in the use of Butoh to develop presence in actors and has taught Butoh training techniques at Sydney Acting Studio, Griffith University and as a guest lecturer at NIDA.

www.butoh.com.au

@butohforactors

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This project is proudly supported by Critical Path.

Critical Path respectfully acknowledges the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land where the organisation is based.

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IMAGE ID: image of two people in a studio performing a movement in unison with arms reaching out to their sides and weight of their bodies leaning more on the left foot. Both performers are wearing black tshirts and black pants.

IMAGE CREDIT: Dwayne Lawler and Yuriko Mizugaki, 2020, photographer: Tomoko Takehara.