On the occasion of the spring equinox, celebrated local Butoh performer and teacher Hiroko Tamano leads a playful morning exercise in energy alignment loosely inspired by Qigong. “Qi” is known as life energy and refers to the energy circulating through the body as it connects to a more universal or environment energy system. Hiroko was a disciple of Butoh founder Tatsumi Hijikata in Tokyo. She moved to Berkeley in 1979 with her husband, Koichi, who had brought Butoh to the United States in 1976.

One Human being presented on this Planet (under his feet=Earth, above 
his head=Outer Space).
Standing toward to East (Sunrise, Future, Possibility, make things better.)
on his Back=West ( Sunset, Past, Ancestors).
on his Right=South ( symbolized an old lady carry basket full eggs &
seeds. Nurture, Next Generations )
on his Left=North (symbolized an old man with wisdom through his
experience. Teachers, Elders)

His body deform to Bird (to cross the sky), to Monkey (Hug a Tree), to be a Tree (Gather Energy of the Earth). He release the Energy of the Earth through his body to the Sky, Carry back Sky into his body (Emptiness).

He presents himself to each direction, through his empty body, the
element of the direction blow through his body and exchanged to
opposite direction.

Dance of Life= Four Direction Pray, taught by Txi Whizz in Vancouver 1983

—Hiroko Tamano