PAUSE - Dance performance by Sayoko Onishi

“ The pause, like stop-motion, affirms what has transpired within the dancer.
We dance to recall those moments—revealing the rawness of our interior, without pretense.
As though with a katana, we pierce the hearts of those who witness it.
In that moment, the art of dance transcends, reaching the sublime.”
– Sayoko Onishi

In this performance, Sayoko Onishi pays tribute to the provocative work of Valeska Gert, a key figure of Berlin’s avant-garde scene in the 1920s. A German dancer, actress, and performer, Gert became known for her bold creations that challenged the artistic conventions of her time. One of her most iconic pieces is Pause—a radical performance, of which only a single photograph remains.

This performance is enriched by a sound composition by Emmanuel Fleitz, which extends and amplifies the sensory experience.
The soundscape unfolds through a dreamlike reality, fragmented or transformed memories, and is reconstructed from tangible materials—a blurring between what is and what we believe to be, where we willingly lose ourselves.

Sayoko Onishi
Dancer, Choreographer – Founder of New Butoh® / Onishi Dance Method
Originally from Hokkaidō, Japan, and based between Italy and France, Sayoko Onishi has been developing a distinctive choreographic language since 1990, blending traditional Butoh, contemporary dance, and intercultural influences. A recipient of several international awards, she has performed throughout Europe, China, and Japan. She is the founder of the New Butoh School and the Onishi Dance Company and collaborates regularly with the French company Man’ok & Cie and the Luxembourg-based association Independent Little Lies.

Emmanuel Fleitz
Double Bassist, Composer – Founder of Man’ok & Cie
Born in Nîmes and based in Lorraine, France, Emmanuel Fleitz has explored improvised and multidisciplinary forms since 1993, combining music, movement, language, and materials. He performs solo and in collaboration with a wide range of artists from diverse backgrounds. In 2004, he founded the company Man’ok & Cie, through which he develops projects across France and Europe—including in Esch 2022 – European Capital of Culture and the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.

Sound design by Emmanuel Fleitz.

In the presence of artist Wolfgang Müller.

Participants: Sayoko Onishi, Emmanuel Fleitz, Wolfgang Müller

Free of charge | Subject to availability | No booking required.