« Embracing stones and trees of Lebanon »
” Jinen Butoh “ and “じねん舞踏(jinen butoh) ”
Dancing in the country where Life and Death were close to each other in daily life.
Lebanon shortly after ending of the war in June 2008. On crossroads there was still tank, arrayed for security and soliders with thaw faces were standing on the street corners, holding machine guns. I was with a Lebanese friend and I picked a stone, on the borderland, hard- fought field between ex-East Beirut and ex-West Beirut., a stone that can be embraced just with both palms. Around us, we saw crumbled walls and buildings, covered in bullet marks .
Placing this stone on the center of theater’s stage, Jinen Butoh performance “Stone” has started.
I have heard, that even during the war members of the theater were not hiding in shelters, but they took a risk and have practiced in there. The director have told me very meaningful words. “Around 20 years ago, during the war, when Beirut was completely sieged by army, soldiers could’nt move even for one step and they had to keep their guns ready. It looked like they were captivated in prison. On the other hand, in this siege, although our lives had been in danger, we were free. I made a scenario out of this...”.
Dancing with banyan tree at a residence in the center of Beirut.
Born there 150 years ago, that tree has spread its branches in all directions, creating sturdy aerial roots, and becoming an enormous tree. Family living there took care us kindly, form a place to stay to food. I listened to story told by the lady from family. During the civil war in 1980’s, about 24 bombs were dropped into this residence. And 18 bombings out of 24 were stopped by this banyan tree protecting the house. Nevertheless her younger sister lost her life unfortunately.
This tree was playing with sisters when they were young, it remembers moments they had spent together. I danced with this banyan tree, which knows this younger sister, and the history of a family.
Dancing with Lebanon cedars of three thousand years old.
These trees, born on the crossroads of human races, like Phoenicians, Romans and Asians coming along the Silk Road in ancient times. Afterwards Christianity and Islam were born. Since then times have passed and this tree has been kept an eye on world changing, until now for some thousands years. Spreading its roots in silence, these trees have been standing still even beyond the time. With those trees, I have danced.
Shortly after the war, a pacifist goverment was founded. And immediately after, me, along with Hiroko, who is creating music for my dance, we arrived this country.
We have found people faces bright, despite the shadow of the war. First performance after the end of civili war, seats were full.
When we finished the performance “Stone”, almost all the audience stood up and presented us warm applause. At the same time, we deeply wanted to send same amount of applause to them from deep our heart. For those people who has passed through this long war time in Lebanon, for congratulation on war’s ending.
Atsushi Takenouchi
« レバノンの石と樹を抱く »
生と死が身近にあった国で踊る。
内戦終了後まだ間のないレバノン、交差点には、未だに戦車が警備のために配備され、
機関銃を持った兵士がほぐれた表情ではあったが辻々に立つ。
激戦地であった東ベイルートと西ベイルートの狭間に落ちていた、両の手のひらで抱けるほどの一つの石をレバノン人の友と拾う。
辺りには銃痕だらけの砕けた壁と建物、、、。
その石をシアターの舞台中央奥に据えJINEN舞踏公演”Stone”が始まった。
戦時中もこのシアターのメンバーはシェルターに逃げ込まず、危険を冒してでも、このシアターで練習していたという。ディレクターは、したたかで深い言葉を僕に語ってくれた。「20数年前戦時中ベイルート市が兵に完全包囲されたとき、兵は一歩も動けず銃を構えてなければならなかった。それは兵士が牢屋に繋がれている様に見えた。逆に僕らの方がその包囲の中で命こそ危なかったが、自由だった、、、。それを題材に演劇の台本にしたんだ、、、。」
レバノン中心地にある屋敷の敷地内にあるバンヤン(ガジュマル)の樹と踊る。
150年前にそこで生まれたその樹は、縦横に伸びる枝々から地に届くたくましい気根を持ち、一本の巨木をなす。その屋敷に代々住んできた家族に、泊りから食事まですっかり世話になった。その家族の女主人にその樹の話を聞く。24発の爆弾をこの屋敷は此処十数年で受けた。そのうち18発はこの樹が身を挺して受け止め家を守ってくれた事、それでもなお家に着弾した爆弾により妹が亡くなった事、、、、。その樹と子どもの頃ぶら下がり姉妹で遊び、共に時を過ごした思い出、、、。その妹を、家族の歴史を、知っているこの樹と踊った。
3千年の樹齢を持つレバノン杉と踊る。太古よりフェニキア人やシルクロードを経てアジア人ローマ人などが出会った、人種の交差点で生まれたその樹。後にキリスト教、回教が生まれ、、、、。それから遙かな時が過ぎ、今この時まで至る数千年の世の推移をその樹はじっと観ていた。静かに根を伸ばし3千年の時間を時とも思わず、立っていた、、、。その樹と踊る。
内戦終了後すぐに平和派の政府が樹立。その直後に僕は、僕の踊りに音を奏でてくれる広子と共にこの地に着いた。人々の顔は戦争の陰はありつつも明るく感じた。内戦後初の舞踏公演、客席は満席。JINEN舞踏公演”Stone”の踊りが終わった時、殆ど全ての観客は立ち上がって惜しみのない拍手を送ってくれた。
でも、本当は僕たちがこの観客に拍手を送りたかった、、、。
この長かった戦争を耐えてきたこのレバノンの人達に、心から「終戦おめでとう」と、、、。
竹之内 淳志
