Jean-Louis Barrault, a French actor who uses Noh techniques to help him inhabit his characters, described his experience of movement in Noh by saying, ‘It appears to me that, acting more from the inside, making fewer gestures, I gain effectiveness – I enter fully into the role and control it.’
Led by Masaki Umano, the shite actor of the Kanze School, the workshop provided a chance to learn the Kamae (posture) and Hakobi (steps) including how to focus your centre of gravity and energy, and movement patterns of Noh. Then, participants turned these basic movements into a series of fluid motions that enable subtle emotional expression. The full beauty of Noh masks and costumes, minimalised movements and expressions are made manifest on top of basic movements.
