Discovering the story the mask has to tell

Butoh Mask Making Retreat

An immersive, beginner-friendly entry into BUTOH — an art form born from Japan’s post-1950s creative revival. Explore the body as archive, landscape, and memory, and discover expression that transcends language.

March 7th–8th • 4x3hr sessions Resonant Life Academy • SONAR Studio • Tempe Limited seats
Enroll Is this for me?

Immediate checkout (no RSVP forms): Early Bird (pay in full) or reserve with a deposit.

The container

Under the leadership of Eric Hodgins (15 years in Butoh tradition), participants enter a carefully held container for transformation through art, presence, stillness, and movement.

Mask practice: identity through slow, thoughtful expression

A significant practice in Butoh is the approach of the mask. We begin by making a Butoh mask, then move slowly into focused encounters — learning what the mask has to teach us about identity, “masks,” and presence.

What Butoh explores

  • Somatic Archive — the body as a living record
  • Somatic Landscape — sensation, weight, space, tempo
  • Somatic Memory — movement arising from lived experience
  • Expression transcending language — imagery, impulse, and form beyond words
  • Presence beyond ego — attention, stillness, and authentic emergence

Held with therapeutic care

Adam Petty, LPC will be with participants through intent-focus, fostering compassion and expression, deepening safety, and demonstrating application (no personal “therapy”).

Who it’s for

  • Beginners, dancers, therapists, artists, and the “movement-curious”
  • People who want an embodied practice that goes deeper than technique
  • Those drawn to presence, ritual, creativity, and honest expression

What to expect (high-level arc)

  • Guided somatic warm-ups + nervous-system settling
  • Butoh explorations using imagery, stillness, micro-movement, and tempo
  • Mask-making + focused encounters with the mask practice
  • Optional witnessing / reflection (no forced performance)
  • Integration practices and ways to apply this work therapeutically

Logistics

  • Where: 6625 S Rural Rd #109, Tempe, AZ
  • Bring: Water, comfortable clothing; layers recommended
  • Arrival: Please arrive 10–15 minutes early
  • Accessibility: Chairs available; scent-light requested

FAQ

Do I need dance experience?
No. This is beginner-friendly and guided with options at every step.
Will I be asked to perform?
No forced performance. Participation is consent-based; witnessing is optional.
Is this therapy?
It’s a movement-based art intensive held with therapeutic care. Professional educators and healers will learn practices that can translate into therapeutic application. This is not psychotherapy or group therapy.
What happens in the mask portion?
We begin by making a Butoh mask, then move into slow, focused encounters where the mask becomes a teacher — revealing identity patterns, presence, and expressive range.
What if I get overwhelmed?
You’ll have options to pause, ground, or adapt, or ask for assistance. The container emphasizes pacing, consent, and safety.

Enroll

Choose Early Bird (pay in full) or reserve with a deposit. Both options confirm your spot immediately.

Early Bird — Pay in Full

Best value. One-and-done checkout. Early Bird ends Mar 1st.

Recommended

Instant confirmation email from Stripe.

Reserve with Deposit

Hold your seat today. Pay the remaining balance later. Balance due Mar 1st.

We recommend paying the balance by the due date to keep your seat secure.

Questions before enrolling? Email contact@resonantlifeacademy.com.

Enroll