BUTOH ONLINE CLASSES
Classes are held every Sunday via the Zoom platform at 20h CET (2PM Eastern standard time and 11AM Pacific time) and Saturday via the Zoom platform at 18h CET (12PM Eastern standard time 9AM Pacific time).
This is ongoing classes, so you can join any week. Find out more about classes.
Watch a short trial lesson.
Teacher: Marco Nektan
LANGUAGE: English
The monthly costs (for twice a week) are 100 Euro (116 USD).
If zou prefere more private classes check out here.
Abaut Butoh online classes
Embark on a unique journey created by the Marco Nektan method at our Online Butoh dance classes for USA and Europe, which combine Butoh, performance art and esotericism. He offers online classes and workshops across the United States and internationally. These sessions are designed for remote learning environments and can be adapted for universities, workshops, or private groups.
This is a process of finding your own unique movement from the hidden parts of your soul, as opposed to established, traditional and choreographed techniques, focusing on meditative exploration, introspection, resonance with the inner universe and personal bodily and mental impulses.
The Marco Nektan Method is a journey into the depths of your subconscious, using the art of dance and movement as a tool for spiritual growth, manifestation and transformation.
Guided by the influence and foundation in the philosophy and body technique of Japanese Butoh art, a form of movement theater that focuses on movements that arise from exploring the depths of the subconscious and meditative dance, you will be able to explore your inner and hidden landscapes and connect with the forces of the universe.
Our Zoom classes are more than just learning how to dance; they are a research and experience of ancient mysteries and spiritual archetypes, with personal motion that provoke topics of transformation, shadow, rebirth and manifestation.
Each online lesson will be a journey into becoming a vessel for otherworldly forces, using your body as a tool for channeling emotions, energies, and spiritual exploration. This is the transformative, inner-work aspect of Butoh for students seeking deep, somatic experiences.
As a dancer, performer and spiritual seeker, Marco Nektan provides you with a unique chance to explore the mystical and spiritual dimensions of movement and dance.
Watch a short trial lesson.
These zoom dance classes are for anyone, regardless of age or body condition, with no dance experiences needed, who is willing to explore the mysteries of body, mind, and spirit.
Sign up now and join us on this unique journey. Read more about the success of our online dance classes.
Content of class
We start butoh online classes with a short theoretical talk, after which we continue with practice.
Marco will be teaching dance techniques from his method (Marco Nektan Method).
We will start with Noguchi taiso and Noguchi seitai inspired techniques for preparation of the body.
Then Marco is leading the group through a meditation session for liberation of ego and drowning into personal subconscious.
After meditation students are doing one Breathwork exercise and focusing intention on their breath as there body music. With these three exercises dancers are introduced to the holistic and psychosomatic approach of this practice.
What come next are Butoh exercises on special topic exploring Space, Time, Body and Relations trough shadow work dance, body resonance, alchemical process of body and soul, energy work and much more… Special focus is on finding calm, tuning into our bodies, self-care, reconnecting with nature...
In the last part of class practice we are integrating all elements from the class into ritual dance. That is a special psycho – drama exercise which demonstrates the experience of integrating the Butoh elements in one choreography.
In the end we engage in Nidra yoga relaxation and grounding with light reflection on the class experience.
Watch a short trial lesson.
Total: 70 minutes
The theme of the course will change every class. Register for our Butoh online classes:
Watch trial class
Butoh dance online leson example
About the teacher
Marco Nektan lives and work in Berlin, Germany. He is a Butoh dancer, choreographer, teacher and movement meditation guide. Marco performs for more than decades, and in his career he created around five hundred original performances. His works and teaching is inspired by ancient mythology, diverse spirituality, esotericism and mystery of human soul. Marco studied Butoh with different Butoh masters like Yoshito Ohno, Hiriko Tamano, Hisako Hurikava, Ko Moribushi, Tebby W.T. Ramasike, Masaki Iwana, Natsuko Kono, Migui Mandalasol, Natsu Nakajima, Yukio Waguri, Adam Koan, Julie Becton, Claire Elisabeth Barratt, Ozrek Sonat, Ken Mai… But before Butoh, Marko has background in classical Ballet, contemporary dance, theater of movement and Performance art. Officially he poses Master degree in dramatic arts and currently finishing his PhD thesis in Plymedia art studies, focusing on Butoh and performance art method of creation. Lifelong fascination with spirituality and mysticism broth him to journey to study and practice meditation, mindfulness, yoga, qi gong, energy work, mysteries of breath, wicca, Noguchi Seitai, reiki and much more. These two worlds of dance, art and mysticism finally collide in his unique Marco Nektan method based on Butoh which he teaches trough his Online Butoh classes and different life workshops and trainings.
Meet the teacher
Book the consultation, for free, over zoom - send us a message and we will come back to you!
Participant Feedback
Marco’s online sessions go way beyond the typical virtual class—they’re like a real journey inward. With his guidance, I’ve taken all the chaos inside me and turned it into something raw and beautiful. Honestly, it feels like being reborn.
Laura DeCastro (Argentina)
I’ll admit, I doubted you could really learn a physical art form online. But Marco somehow manages to create this intimate, safe space, even though we’re all scattered across the world. His instructions are so clear, and his presence is so strong that it genuinely feels like we’re breathing and moving together in the same room.
Lloyd Johnson (USA)
Marco’s classes opened up a whole new world of creativity in my work. He uses such vivid imagery and the method of creative notations to help me discover ways of moving I never thought were possible for my body.
Margaux Pascal (France)
I was brand new to Butoh when I joined, and from day one, Marco’s patient, welcoming style put me at ease. He takes these tricky philosophical ideas and translates them into movement anyone can try, no matter your dance background.
Christopher Buchanan (USA)
Marco Nektan brings a kind of depth and knowledge you don’t often find. Even as an experienced performer, I’ve been pushed to let go of old habits. His approach, especially the focus on the “alchemical body,” has completely changed the way I think about presence and energy on stage.
Sabine Schulz (Germany)
Honestly, these classes are more than just dance. They’re like a physical meditation that’s helped me get back in touch with my body. Every time I finish a session, I feel grounded, real, and much more connected to my own rhythm.
Tommaso Vittorio (Italy)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
## Basics & Philosophy
What is Butoh?
Butoh isn’t your typical dance—it’s a Japanese style that popped up after World War II. Instead of flashy moves or strict technique, Butoh digs deep into how you feel and who you are in each moment. The movements are slow, sometimes strange, but the goal isn’t just to look good. You dive into raw emotions, explore every part of what it means to be human, and sometimes, you even surprise yourself.
I’ve never danced before. Can I take this class?
Definitely. You don’t need any kind of dance background to get started with Butoh. There’s no “right” body shape or movement standard here. We start with who you are and go from there.
Is this class “dark” or “scary”?
Not really. Sure, Butoh goes to intense places—sometimes weird or even a little unsettling—but that’s only one side of it. There’s beauty, playfulness, and even a lot of laughs. The goal is to give you space to experience the full range, safely and with good guidance.
## Technical & Space Requirements
How much space do I need?
You don’t need anything fancy. If you can stretch your arms and legs without smacking into a table or wall, you’re set. Got room to take two big steps in every direction? That’s enough.
What should I wear?
Wear something that lets you move freely—leggings, sweatpants, a T-shirt, whatever works. Traditional Butoh sometimes means minimal clothes or even white body paint, but for online classes, keeping it simple and comfy is perfectly fine.
Do I need my camera on?
It helps if I can see you, so I can offer ideas and support tailored to you. But if you’d rather keep your camera off, that’s totally fine. Your comfort comes first.
## The Online Experience
How can you teach such a physical practice through a screen?
We make it work with clear images, breath exercises, and verbal prompts. I’ll demo what I can, but a lot of this work comes from inside you. And honestly, being at home lets you focus and explore in ways you sometimes can’t in a group studio.
What happens if my internet cuts out?
No worries. Just jump back in when you’re able. You’ll also get a [recording/notes] after each class, so you don’t miss out.
Will there be music?
No, unfortunately sometimes music is distracting and it creates chaos with me leading the class and my speaking.
## Logistics
What is your cancellation policy?
You can cancel 2 days before class start and your money will be transferred back. After first class started cancellation is not possible.
Can I join a single session, or do I have to commit to the full course?
If you book the classes you need to commit at least for one month.
Free Butoh online workshop
Waiting list
This workshop serves as an introduction to Butoh online classes. It's a trial run of sorts for all those curious to experience what these classes look like in full. The workshop provides insight into all aspects of our work as well as the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and online work.
Register on the waiting list and the moment we organize one of the free workshops we will send you an e-mail inviting you to join. After the workshop we will ask you for your opinion on your experience at the workshop and we will offer you to join our regular training.
Register - places are limited.
What is Butoh?
Butoh is a mysterious, constantly evolving art medium. Chaotic or calm, extremely slow or hysterical, painful or elegant, improvised or choreographed with stylized gestures, Butoh is constantly changing, resisting definitions, but still manages to transform the viewer.
Butoh (舞踏 Butō) – loosely translated means the dance of darkness, i.e. the dance of the earth and the depth of the subconscious.
Butoh is certainly a significant revolution in dance creation, representing primarily the opposition to all classical forms of performing art. It expresses the return to the roots of the human race, and that is why it descends from the heavens (classical art) to the earth, searching deep in the genetic code, in the memories of our ancient ancestors, for answers to the key questions of existence.
It represents the cycle of life, birth and death, expressed from the depths of our subconscious through performance. Performers do not dance but "are danced", given the semi-trance state they are in, and thus as urban "shamans" they channel energies, proto-memories, collective unconscious, subconscious archetypes, spirits of time through their body and dance with them . With various techniques of meditation and movement, the artist enters an "in-between state", explores his subconscious, but also goes deeper beyond the boundaries by entering other dimensions, and thus lets his body play willingly and naturally.
Sometimes it is grotesque, creepy, terrifying, scandalous, monstrous, sometimes it is completely calm and neutral, sometimes it carries a special, undiscovered feeling. At the beginning, the performer must take off the ego mask he wears to get in touch with the deep darkness of his soul, but at the same time tell part of the story to the audience and convey the energy in the right light, without embellishment.
A new type of aesthetics, established rules and boundaries are overcome, saying that everything is beautiful in its own way. The artist dances between worlds, dimensions, transforms himself into another being, speaks a hidden language and searches for the elixir of eternity.
Butoh free PDF books
FREE PLAYBOOKS
Unleash The Sacred Potential In Your Body
Embrace the revolutionary experience of movement through the classes led by Marco Nektan. Through the basic lessons of Butoh for Beginners and the free expression of Intuitive Dancing, Nektan will help you discover yourself and finally explore the world of Butoh – Journey into Healing and Transformation.
Find the beat again, heal yourself spiritually and become an avante-garde master.
You can order PDF books FOR FREE!
Marco Nektan method
Marco Nektan's movement performance method is a unique combination of Butoh art, performance art and ritual, mystical, esoteric and spiritual practice. This unique method was created by long-term research of Butoh art and performance art, united in Marc Nektan's doctoral thesis. Butoh was born in the 1960s in Japan on the foundations of the German Expressionist dance school, combining contemporary dance with Japanese traditional influences. The main characteristics of Butoh dance are slow and controlled movement, strong presence of performers, movements that come from the depths of the unconscious creating a special aesthetic transcending the dualistic world. Nektan takes all those fundamental principles of Butoh and expands them with the influences of Western esoteric schools, ancient spiritual and ritual practices, creating artistic happenings that transform the spirit and body of the observer and the performer himself.
In Nektan's method, the body of the performer is transformed into a being from another world, corresponding with archetypes from the depths of his inner universe to possess and move his body. Dancers of the Nectan method do not dance, they are danced by the forces of the recesses of the subconscious. His choreographic technique includes ritualistic movements that invoke ancient and spiritual archetypes complemented by sacred symbolism of the occult. Such performances are not ordinary dances, but mystical experiences and spiritual journeys.
The central concept of Nektan's method is the concept of space, time, body, spirit and interaction. Performers of this method explore the presence and awareness of the forces that are in the depths of their bodies as well as in the space around them and beyond. An important focal point lies in the intense and trained presence that gives the dancer the opportunity to immerse himself in a meditative state during exploration and performance. Only then do they become able to transform their ego and immerse themselves in the spiritual experience of the collective unconscious. In this ritual process of public performance, the boundaries between the dancers and the audience are erased, and their interaction is transformed into a synthesis. This dance is not a performance, but a ritual, an experience that together with the audience goes through the process of transcendence of the material world and elevates the them all to the divine.
Combining mystical symbolism and spiritual experience in Nektan's method allows the performer to explore deep themes such as existence, transformation, rebirth, divinity and hidden secrets. These themes are often promoted through various mystical and spiritual practices as well as through many Butoh methods. Nectan's dances based on Butoh practice reflect the grotesque aesthetics of the body and thus deepen the esoteric experience and essential philosophy of the transcendence of the spirit. This style of performance forces the performer to go through a process of transformation by channeling internal archetypes and magical narratives. Every element, movement and atmosphere is a sacred symbol of catharsis emerging from the deep mysteries of existence and the universe.
Choreographies are created in such a way as to unite the material and the metaphysical, which leads to a complete transformation of all elements present in the performance (including the space and the audience). This is a unique opportunity for the performer to get deeply involved in the creation of the work and transcend traditional attitudes towards art, overcoming the body and mind, plunging into the deep mysteries of the soul. This is a rite of transformation in which the audience is an active tool, consciously or unconsciously participating in the experience of transforming the human body into something divine and holy.
Ultimately, Nektan's method is an experience of the hidden. Synthesizing Butoh art with ritual performance, spiritual exploration and mystical practice, Nektan creates works of art that blur the distinctions between artistic and spiritual, artist and art, material and transcendent, performer and audience.
7 benefits of Butoh online classes
Butoh, also known as the "Dance of Darkness," is much more than just a form of performance art. This art form, born out of post-WWII Japan, is a highly psychological and physical experience that aims to remove the "social mask" and find a more honest form of physical expression.
Here are seven benefits that can be derived from the practice and experience of Marco Nektan’s Butoh online classes:
1. Radical Self-Awareness
Butoh forces you to reconnect with the smallest sensations inside your body, whether it be your breathing (breathwork), the weight of your internal organs, or the sensations on your skin (holistic). This form of intense self-awareness helps develop a powerful connection between your mind and body (psychosomatic), which has become so disconnected with the world that we live in.
2. Emotional Catharsis
Butoh is quite different from other dance styles that focus on the aesthetics and beauty of the human form. Butoh, on the other hand, explores the "grotesque" and the "shadow" side of human emotion, allowing for a powerful experience of catharsis (shadow work).
3. Freedom from Aesthetic Judgement
Butoh has no "wrong" ways of looking, only ways that are authentic. This form of dance art frees the practitioner from the need to look "pretty" and "attractive," allowing people of all shapes, sizes, and ages to find empowerment in the form of their body.
4. Deepened Presence and Mindfulness
The slow and intentional movements of Butoh, described as "the dance of the periphery," demand complete concentration. It is a moving meditation that helps you connect with the present moment and calm a racing brain.
5. Enhanced Creative Imagination
Butoh involves sort of creative visualization, which is a set of vivid and poetic images that evoke movement. For example, you might be asked to envision your body made of smoke or your bones filled with lead. Butoh helps develop your creative imagination.
6. Resilience and Physical Control
Butoh may seem effortless, but the slow-motion movements and unusual postures require a good deal of physical control and stamina. It helps develop a strong inner self and a high degree of physical discipline.
7. Connection to the Universal
Butoh helps practitioners connect with the universal by removing personal identity or falls ego, which is represented by the white paint used on the dancers' bodies. It helps dancers feel connected to the world and to the universal cycle of life, death, decay, and rebirth.
Butoh classes story
We started Butoh online classes in 2020, during the time of COVID. Many people who previously did not have access to workshops and classes now gained the opportunity to explore and connect with artists around the world.
In 2021, together with a group of online students, we began the online project “Breath”, based on the idea of breath and breathing, and how it influences and inspires movement. Every week the dancers created numerous choreographies.
After this project, we formed the group “Endlessly Performing Art” and began a year-long project in which 20 artists—students of the online workshops—created one performance every day.
After completing this project, in 2022 we gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, and organized the festival “It’s Gonna Be Hot”, which presented more than 20 artists. In November of the same year, another festival was organized in Belgrade and in Montreal, Canada.
The following year, these two festivals were repeated, and in 2024 a group of artists organized a festival in Berlin as well, continuing the networking of artists in Berlin and London.
In 2025, in addition to the existing ones, two more festivals were launched—one in New York and another near Munich.
For five years now, the online workshops have continued, creating new dancers and artists, and bringing people together around the world into one global community. The online Butoh classes have given many around the world the chance to experience the art of Butoh and to integrate its techniques into their practice. The classes offer not only training but also presence within a global artistic community, as well as opportunities to perform worldwide.
From 2020 until today, more than 200 students have completed the training, and many continue to attend regularly and travel to the festivals.
Marco Nekta on Youtube
Watch and subscribe for some of Marco Nektan's performance art works.
