Vangeline Theater/New York Butoh Institute, in collaboration with ELF, is embarking on an innovative project that bridges the worlds of art and science. This groundbreaking initiative explores the intersection of neuroscience, psychophysiology, and Butoh dance through a live biometric study of the duet MAN WOMAN, performed by Vangeline and Akihito Ichihara of Sankai Juku. By integrating wearable heart monitors, the project investigates real-time heart synchronization between the dancers, offering new insights into the physiological underpinnings of human connection.
MAN WOMAN is a profound Butoh duet that delves into themes of duality, gender, and unity. Butoh, a Japanese avant-garde dance form known for its meditative slowness and psychological depth, serves as the perfect medium for this exploration. The performance strips movement to its essence, creating a liminal space where identity and connection evolve organically. As Vangeline and Ichihara move in harmony, their heart rhythms are tracked to examine physiological coherence—a potential marker of deep empathy and interpersonal connection. This synchronization may serve as both a metaphor and measurable evidence of unity between self and other.
The study is led by an international team of visionary researchers, each bringing unique expertise to the project:
Peter Granger, Co-Founder of Heartbond Ltd (UK), transitioned from geophysics to psychotherapy and relationship counseling. His pioneering work in heart synchronization has led to innovative technologies that measure and enhance interpersonal bonds.
Claire Berry, also Co-Founder of Heartbond Ltd, applies her background in education and therapy to foster deeper connections in communities. Her collaboration with Collision Unknown, a creative collective focused on performance, movement, and technology, has brought heart synchronization research into the realm of dance, including ballet.
Prof. Dr. Judith Revers, Professor of Arts Therapies/Art Therapy at Medical School Hamburg (Germany), blends her expertise as a practicing artist with research in social art, installation, media, and performance. Her interdisciplinary focus on arts, cultural studies, and health enriches the project’s therapeutic perspective.
Dr. Petia Sice, Associate Professor at Northumbria University (UK), specializes in human-centered systems thinking, consciousness, and organizational wellbeing. Her insights into complex systems and coherence provide a critical foundation for understanding the dynamics of connection in this study.
Dr. Laurie Rauch, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), contributes expertise in psychophysiology and coherence, bridging performance science with somatic expression and integrative health.
Marianne Sice, an interdisciplinary artist, musician, and research assistant at Northumbria University, brings a deeply felt artistic dimension to the project, connecting music, movement, and emotion.
Preliminary tests in the UK have already shown promising results. Equipped with biosensing technology, Vangeline and Ichihara performed while their heart rate variability and synchronicity were monitored in real time. The data revealed remarkable patterns, suggesting that Butoh’s unique blend of physicality and emotional intensity may foster physiological harmony between performers.
“We’re excited to take MAN WOMAN into uncharted territory by exploring how our bodies not only move in harmony but may also feel in harmony,” said Vangeline and Akihito Ichihara. “This project represents a natural evolution of our interest in the intersection of Butoh and science.”
This study arrives at a time when human connection is often mediated by technology, yet artists have long intuited the power of movement, ritual, and presence to forge profound energetic bonds. By providing scientific validation for these intuitions, the project opens new frontiers in performance studies, dance therapy, and psychosomatic research. Its findings could have far-reaching applications, from psychology and team dynamics to empathy training and somatic education.
MAN WOMAN will premiere at La MaMa E.T.C. in New York City in April 2026, followed by its UK premiere at Oxford University in September 2026. This collaboration between Vangeline Theater, ELF, and leading scientists marks a bold step toward understanding the unseen connections that dance can reveal, both on stage and within the human body.
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