Skip to main content

CPA Series | Open Classroom: Japan, Myth & Memory

Date: Wed, Nov 11, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM

Venue: CURRENT Studio, Chapel Hill

Price: Free

Category: Classes

What does a dance form that emerged amid the political protest and rapid social transformation of postwar Japan have to say to us now? The evening before Sankai Juku takes the stage, Christopher Nelson, professor of anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill, welcomes William Marotti, a UCLA professor of history and butoh specialist, to his Anthropology 330 class. Marotti has studied the form alongside the critical art and popular movements of that era. At UCLA, Marotti teaches modern Japanese history with a focus on everyday life and cultural-historical questions, and chairs the East Asian Studies M.A. Interdepartmental Degree Program. Nelson has opened this lecture to the public, so you can sit in on a real class and watch the performance the next night with fresh eyes.

Raleigh Mom Club — Raleigh, NC

Classes · Chapel Hill

CPA Series | Open Classroom: Japan, Myth & Memory

“Go to this lecture the night before the Sankai Juku dance performance.”

When
Nov 11
Wed, Nov 11, 2026
5:00 PM
Where
CURRENT Studio
Chapel Hill, NC
Ages
Check ages with the venue
Price
Free
chapel hillfree

CPA Series | Open Classroom: Japan, Myth & Memory is a free public lecture at CURRENT Studio where you can sit in on a live UNC-Chapel Hill anthropology class. The session features guest speaker William Marotti, a UCLA history professor and specialist in butoh, a dance form that developed during the social shifts of postwar Japan. Professor Christopher Nelson is opening his Anthropology 330 classroom to the community so attendees can learn about the history and cultural movements behind the art. What to Know: This event takes place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM at CURRENT Studio in Chapel Hill. Admission is free, and no registration or tickets are mentioned in the schedule. The lecture is designed to prepare attendees to watch the Sankai Juku dance performance the following evening with a deeper understanding of the art form. This is an excellent weekday outing for parents of high schoolers who want to experience a college-level seminar. It offers a thoughtful, educational look at modern Japanese history and art, making the next night's performance much more meaningful.

View on visitchapelhill

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to attend the open classroom event?
This event is free to attend.
Do I need to be a enrolled student at UNC to attend this lecture?
No, Professor Nelson has opened this specific Anthropology 330 class lecture to the general public.

Last updated

FREE

Nov 11

Directions

Plan Your Visit

Schedule

CPA Series | Open Classroom: Japan, Myth & Memory runs Wed, Nov 11, 2026, 5:00 PM.

Getting There

CURRENT Studio is at 123 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC. Open in Google Maps.

More events at CURRENT Studio →

What to Bring

Nothing but the kids — this one's free, with no tickets to buy.