MAN WOMAN

A bold reimagining of Butoh dance for today.

MAN WOMAN is a visually striking new dance performance by New York-based choreographer and performer Vangeline. Inspired by Eikoh Hosoe's famous Man and Woman photo series featuring Butoh pioneers Tatsumi Hijikata and Motofuji, the performance reimagines these celebrated images through a contemporary feminist lens.

Butoh is a Japanese avant-garde dance form known for its highly expressive movement exploring transformation, identity and the body's ability to cross boundaries. Drawing on Hosoe's photographs as inspiration, MAN WOMAN combines Vangeline's distinctive movement language with costumes by visionary queer artist Machine Dazzle and a richly textured electro-acoustic score by Ray Barragan-Sweeten.

Placing the female body at the centre, MAN WOMAN reimagines Hosoe's work from a contemporary feminist perspective, asking what happens when women are no longer defined in relation to a male presence, but become the authors of their own stories.

"Vangeline ... becomes a complete being – male and female, animal, vegetable and mineral, down to earth and out of time.” – DanceViewTimes

MAN WOMAN premiered in New York in spring 2026 at La MaMa E.T.C.

Post-show discussion

A live discussion will follow after the performance with the artist and Dr Baldock (women’s roles in Butoh history) deepening the enquiry into gender, memory and queer aesthetics.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space and ask everyone to contribute to a respectful discussion during the Q&A.

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Join a Butoh Dance Workshop with Vangeline on Thursday 17 September at the Old Fire Station. This workshop runs all day, with a lunch break.

Book together, save more

Book the MAN WOMAN performance and the Butoh Dance Workshop in the same transaction and enjoy 20% off your combined booking. The discount is applied automatically at checkout.