Tamasaburo Bando performs Kabuki
Dance
 In
Kagamijishi – ‘The Lion
Dance’ -
Tamasaburo Bando displays his extraordinary versatility in this
most demanding
of roles; first as a shy maiden and then as a fierce lion.
In Kagamijishi the court lady Yayoi is dancing at New Year celebrations
when a lion head mask lying nearby begins to distract her. Completely
captivated, Yayoi moves to pick up the lion mask. Once in her hand
this lion mask takes possession of her soul and her dance suddenly
becomes erratic. The spirit of the mask overpowers her and drags
her off-stage. Moments later, Yayoi rushes back down stage, now
fully transformed as a huge lion. Two butterflies irritate the
lion into a frenzy; he dances, swirling his great mane in wild
circles, evoking the fearsome rage of a lion.
Here Tamasaburo displays the great dynamism and variety which
have led him to be regarded as Kabuki’s greatest contemporary
dancer.
This DVD also includes Tamasaburo in the dances Kanaya
Tanzen and Kosu no To.
Tamasaburo is world reknowned for his performances in film and
on stage with Maurice Béjart, Mikhail
Baryshnikov and Yo-Yo Ma. Now
in these stagings of the great classics of Japan, Tamasaburo
shows himself to be a consummate artist of the Kabuki tradition. 
This DVD features an excellent, comprehensive English
language commentary by Oxford University scholar
Paul M. Griffith explaining the history and details of the
play and of the performance.
KAGAMIJISHI is part of a
six part series of DVDs featuring Tamasaburo.
“…who will forget Tamasaburo, with hands like
long translucent carvings?” New York Times
“ …one of Japan’s greatest stars,” Maurice Béjart
“ I have just seen a great actor…” The Guardian
For More Information
Contact Marty Gross Film Productions, Inc. 416.536.3355 or
email videos@martygrossfilms.com for
more information about purchasing or licensing this film for broadcast.
|
