a floating forest of giant lotus leaves - br real but not real br Amagatsu alone br (every movement of his hands is perfect) br br the lotus leaves rise br six dancers curl under the water br tragically absurd br beautifully grotesque br (their hands never touch) br br Butoh in seven scenes br and relentless slow motion br a mirror of life and death br ash and blood br sand and water br br as the giant leaves fall br six pairs of hands open like lotus flowersbr br Alison Cassidybr br