We mourn the loss of Ushio Amagatsu, the founder of the world-famous Japanese dance company Sankai Juku and one of the most important choreographers and dancers of his generation.
Amagatsu leaves behind an unforgettable legacy in the world of contemporary dance. He was not only a master of Butoh, but also constantly expanded the boundaries of expression in dance with his ideas. Of particular note is his groundbreaking performance Apocalypse, which premiered in 1989 at the Spiral Hall in Tokyo and at Odeon in Vienna and was shown at ImPulsTanz again in 2006, in which Ismael Ivo danced to the music of Takashi Kako. As a recurring guest of the festival, he presented many of his most important works in the years that followed, impressing us and the audience with his unique aesthetic, his unrivalled sensitivity and his deep understanding of the human soul.
We remember Ushio Amagatsu as a visionary artist whose passion and dedication redefined the boundaries of what is possible in dance. May his work continue to live on in the hearts and the world of contemporary dance!
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all who mourn the loss of Ushio with us.
You will be missed!
Karl Regensburger and the entire ImPulsTanz team
