KIAHKEYA PRESENTS Improvisational Butoh Dance and Plant medicine Retreat Bolivia October 19th -29th 2009 Improvisational Spirit Nature Butoh Dance in combination with Amazonian Medicinal Plant Ceremonies On the sacred Incan island, Isla del Sol, Bolivia www.physicaltheater.net October 19-29, 2009 Spend 8 days on Lake Titicaca's  Isla Del Sol living in rustic simplicity, defining your spirit dance in dialogue with nature and medicinal plant purification ceremonies.   Taught by Butoh master and world musician ATSUSHI TAKENOUCHI  & HIROKO KOMIYA in collaboration with HERNANDO VILLA and KATHI VON KOERBER Lake Titicaca Impressively immense with clear-blue waters, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America. It is situated in the high plains that separate Bolivia and Peru, acting as a natural frontier between the two countries. It is known to be the cradle of Incan civilization and the origin of the Inca Empire. It is also the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 m (12,500ft) above sea level with an area of 8,300 square kilometers (3,200 sq miles). Its waters hold the legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, founders of the Incan society high up in Cuzco, a task given to them by their father, the Sun. Myth tells how the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th Century caused the indigenous people to hide their treasures at the bottom of the lake in desperation; rumors have it that certain cities' ruins can also be found there. What is certain is that in the surrounding areas of Koa Island, to the north of Sun Island, they have found artifacts that, according to archaeologists, may indicate that there was a city below the water, but the evidence is too scarce to guarantee this. Not very far from there, in Copacabana, there is a festival that takes place in honor of the Miraculous Brunette Virgin. The Workshop The workshop will be composed of rigorous body training, dance and voice classes that are held in the morning, afternoon, and alternately at night, in both natural indoor and outdoor settings: in and around the island, white sand beaches, Incan Labyrinth ruins, and mountainsides. Participants will be lead through a holistic environmental dance and healing week, culminating in group dance and solo improvisations. We will be working with local artists, healers and island people, working with the ancient heritage of the island. Classes will be lead by Atsushi Takenouchi and Kathi von Koerber alternatively and together. There will be two healing plant ceremonies during the retreat, and various different cleansings. Chincana Ruins . Atsushi Takenouchi created "Jinen" Butoh, a dance that surrenders and encompasses the totality of universal flow.  Born in Kyoto, Japan, Atsushi teaches dancers how to connect to their organic history, guiding participants through genetic memories and allowing them to teach themselves the dance of their molecular ancestry (the dance of the lake, of the stone, of the sky, etc.) His teachings start with the breath and first movements of life, and lead to universal interconnected awareness by focusing on dancing in the now, at your threshold. Atsushi dances the present day and its various forms, including the chord and discord created by nature, people and society. www.jinen-butoh.com Hiroko Komiya assists Atsushi Takenouchi with live instrumentation and voice for the past decade. She expresses the images of the elements, the air, the space, the fire, the earth, the water and our own inner body. She transforms it into sound without bound melody or rhythm. The sounds are quite simple and unique, and they coexist as the rythems of nature, weather and environment. She uses natural material and essence, such as water, stone, bamboo, sands, leaves, sea shells, as well as small bells, percussion, and drums in her music. Hiroko sings  with deep primal shamanic voice connecting with the native essence in life, and dance.   Kathi von Koerber is a dancer and healer from Germany and South Africa and has been walking the prayer of women strengthening their core sweetly and justly. As a healer Kathi combines techniques of the Japanese Butoh dance form, with Bioenergetics, Tribal Trance dance, African Spiritisim, Native American practices, shamanic voice practices, meditation and deep cellular spirit work to help participants mature their capacities in line with their life mission. Kathi honors the voice of the grandmother and supports the prayer of the woman and her ancient voices, through the tools and means of praying with the elements, the earth, its food, the fire and its transformation, the water and its purifying power and the nurturing qualities of the air, the dance of life we move through. www.kiahkeya.com www.resonant-wave.net/dance2009 Hernando Villa is a native son of Colombia. He is a healer and a member of the Sacred fire of Itzachilatlan- an affiliated network of sacred medicine traditions, Tribal Elders and Chiefs from ALL of the Americas who have been sharing their gifts and traditions with each other in the Sacred Condor/Eagle connection. He has been working with indigenous groups of South America such as the Camsra, Kogis and the Emberas through his in depth work with the ways of plant medicine, music and ancient wisdom keeping, Hernando has been offering his music and purification with in different environments, such as prayer circles, workshops, tribal elder facilitation, indigenous preservation projects and youth leadership. His prayers are focused on around the temascal, pipe ceremonies, and medicinal cleansing sessions.    For more pictures on previous workshops, please check: www.resonant-wave.net/dance20004/adirondacks-workshop.html Requirements: No prior dance experience necessary; however, participants should be in good physical conditions and prepared to acclimate to high altitude (12,500 ft).  A letter of introductions stating interest, previous dance/music/healing experience is required.  A written statement of medical issues is also required.   Cost of workshop: 1100 $ before September 15th 1200 $ after  September 15th  Includes all national transportation from the guesthouse in La Paz onwards, mountain style simple lodging, food, workshops classes and purification ceremonies. Participants are responsible for airport to guesthouse transportation and back. On the 20th the group will start traveling to the Island of the Sun , and return to la Paz on the 28th. Participants depart home from La Paz the 29th. Transportation: Airfares are not included in the cost of the workshop. Participants will fly to La Paz, Bolivia arriving on the 19th of October and return on the 29th of October. Good air fares can be found at www.clickandfly.com  ( NYC to La Paz 774 $) or www.sidestep.com ( NYC to la Paz 794 $) The group will spend the 19th  in a hotel in La Paz;  On the 20th, the group will travel together via private bus to Copacabana (3 hours).  The group will then travel via boat and then a short hike to the guesthouse  on La Isla del Sol.  Donkeys and guides will assist with luggage. Dinner will be served at the guesthouse on the 20th.    REGISTRATION & Information: Limited to 20 participants. Registration CONTACT: Bolivia@kiahkeya.com Kiahkeya Office: contact Katie at (970) 759-5167 Checks or Money orders can be sent to Kiahkeya Productions 707 Lorimer street apt 4 Brooklyn 11211 NY Or please inquire about direct bank deposit.