This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary project in which English poetry and performance studies were integrated into a poetry performance project for EFL students in a language education programme at a Japanese university. The project used the theories and methods of But?¯, a contemporary Japanese form of dance and visual art, to guide students through the process of interpretation, journaling, rehearsal, and performance. In Notational But?¯ practice, performers begin with a piece of literary or visual art, observe the images that stand out most to the performer, make notes about those images' qualities in a journal, and then reflect on the movement. Our students followed a similar process, accompanied with vocal work, as they memorised excerpts from English poetry. We found that the project helped students create personal connections with the literature and more fully integrate foreign culture experiences into their identity as Japanese speakers of English.