March 9
Born Today:
Tatsumi Hijikata
Iconoclast Tatsumi Hijikata (1928-1986) was the creator of Butoh dance in the years following WWII (originally Ankoku Butoh - "ancient dance step of utter darkness"). Hijikata was not interested in making pretty dances or entertaining audiences with technical feats. His work found beauty in the grotesque and in the expressive possibilities of an extended moment in time. Butoh has developed in many directions since that time and a performance of this amazing dance is an experience you don't want to miss.
Also Born Today: Cuban ballet dancer Fernando Bujones (1955-2005), who danced with ABT and was a guest with 60 other companies during his career. Actor Juliette Binoche (1964-), best known for her role in movie The English Patient (1996), also collaborated with contemporary choreographer Akram Khan in 2008 on the piece entitled in-i.
------
Movies: Take Me Out to the Ball Game released in 1949, Can-Can released in 1960, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying released in 1967
Broadway Premiere: In the Heights in 2008