Jo序, ha破, kyū急, by definition, is artistic modulations in traditional Japanese performance: opening, middle and climax (end). The modulation has been used all across the Japanese art forms. But in Noh, jo-ha-kyū is the modulation of nature itself. It can apply to anything that involve the passing of time. We the student of Noh learn about jo-ha-kyū from the first exercise - walking exercise.  We learn how we pace ourselves traveling from A to B using jo-ha-kyū. It also apply to utai (chanting) and shimai (dance repertoire) we practice as well as any aspects of Noh.

I find jo-ha-kyū very useful for movement improvisation, particularly in Orbit. But first, I find it’s interesting to examine the definition of jo-ha-kyū closely.

序 jo = preface; beginning; order; precedence; occasion; chance; incidentally 

破 ha = rend; rip; tear; break; destroy; defeat; frustrate

急 kyu = hurry; emergency; sudden; steep

For structured improvisation, it is helpful to plan jo-ha-kyū section in each section as well as the whole piece. It stops me from following the music cue as such, but respond to sound and procure my choice of movement with sound and time.

In improvisation, we delight in always having new movement pathways opening up. Applying jo-ha-kyū adds different dynamics, positive/negative space, light and shade with stillness and silence in the improvisation. Having movement pathways opening up is great, but knowing when to do less is a skill I practice rigorously. 

It is a very important idea in my toolkit as a performer when composing movement in real-time. I think it works not only how we time the performance, but also how the audience perceive and gain access into the performance. 

But jo-ha-kyū is not merely beginning, middle and end.  In Orbit, each section has its own jo-ha-kyū as well as the whole piece. It’s like the Mandelbrot set, a sort of fractal structure. The piece can look like there’s an unpredictable pattern to it but there can be jo-ha-kyū about it which keep the attention of the performer and audience alike.

I’m starting Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation (Choreography) at the Victorian College of the Arts in March.  No doubt, I’ll be writing about jo-ha-kyu again.