Kevin Starbard brings Butoh to SF Zen Center
Kevin Starbard, the Ino (Head of the Meditation Hall) at City Center, has significantly enriched the San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC) community by introducing Butoh, an avant-garde Japanese dance form.
Since 2022, Starbard has organized ten Butoh performances, predominantly held at the Conference Center at 308 Page Street.
Butoh, emerging in the 1960s as a counter to Western influence in Japan, resonates with Zen’s acceptance of all experiences, including darkness.
Starbard’s journey with Butoh began in 1984, sparked by his engagement with political theater and deepened during his time in Japan. There, he published the Tsubushi Butoh Journal and immersed himself in Butoh’s avant-garde world.
Upon returning to the U.S., Starbard’s Butoh interest was revived through social media, leading him to reestablish his connections with Butoh performers.
His efforts culminated in the debut Butoh performance at SFZC in November 2022, facilitated by collaboration with Hiroko Tamano and local supporter David France.
The events have gained traction, with growing audiences and additional cultural activities, such as Yogetsu Akasaka’s successful concert in March 2024.
Starbard is also involved in promoting the film Dancing with the Dead: Red Pine and the Art of Translation, which SFZC is co-sponsoring.
Upcoming Butoh performances in October and November will feature international artists, reflecting Butoh’s global expansion.
