Maureen Fleming’s original work 'Axis Mundi', has been performed throughout the world spanning five continents. Originally commissioned by Creative Time, La MaMa E.T.C. and the Asian Cultural Council, 'Axis Mundi' was first created in Japan in Kazuo Ohno's studio and performed in Japan's 1990 Butoh Festival commemorating Tatsumi Hijikata's death. Maureen Fleming will never forget the surreal beauty and generosity of the Ohno family and what it meant to live with them during the three months in which this work was created.   Axis Mundi was inspired by the following poem by Rumi: I lived 100s or 1000s of years as a mineral and I died as a mineral and became a plant. I lived 100s of 1000s of years as a plant and I died as a plant and became an animal. I lived 100s of 1000s of years as an animal and I died as an animal and became human. What did I ever lose by dying? Rumi Light Design by Christopher Odo Sound Design by Brett Jarvis for information on this video contact Maureen Fleming Company at www.maureenfleming.com Maureen.Fleming@fulbrightmail.org