Japanese dances - traditional and modern

All cultures of the world have dances, but in Japan they are distinguished by their uniqueness and expressiveness. Japanese dances appeared more than 1500 years ago. Over this long period of time, Japanese dance art has undergone many changes and transformations. Throughout the history of Japan, national holidays have been accompanied by dances: ceremonial and folk dances.

A distinctive feature of Japanese dance is its close connection with other forms of art, primarily with theater. The actors moved around the stage as if dancing, and their main accessory was a fan, which could replace many objects in the performance: a sword, a bowl, a staff, a writing brush, etc. Thus, the theatrical performance resembled a kind of dance with a fan.

The Japanese reverence and sacredly preserve their traditions, so for them dance is not just movements to music, but the history of an entire nation, a kind of ritual in which great meaning is invested. Japanese dances are entire theatrical performances, which are shown not only with the help of body movements, but also with many different accessories: fans, masks, umbrellas, weapons, hats, etc. Each performance is performed in the name of something: the arrival of a long-awaited season, a rich harvest, victory in a war or a love story.

The main thing

Dances in Japan are traditionally called “nihon bue”, but if you look at the etymology, this is not entirely true. “Bu” means the choreography of the Middle Ages in general, and “e” indicates belonging to the Edo period - the 18th century. That is, “buyo” is the dance of the Edo era, which is a type of dance part of the kabuki theater, although in modern times this word refers to Japanese dance performances in general.

Folk dances developed in conjunction with other forms of art - calligraphy, theater, literature, music - and, like them, they have features that are distinctive in Japanese and a little strange for a European. A combination of smooth and sharp gestures, clearly defined facial expressions, amazing costumes and bright makeup - Japanese dancers are equipped with all this.

However, for the most part, Japanese choreography does not accept “ragged” movements. All poses, called “kata”, are known in advance and honed to perfection. They have a slowness bordering on immobility: the body remains in one place most of the time, and only the hands, shoulders, and head change position in space.

The movements of the characters should seem to be gliding, so they dance either in a room with special tatami on the floor, or on an equipped stage. The composition is built according to a certain “jo-ha-kyu” model, which is also used in literature, theater, and even tea drinking. Its meaning is that all actions are sequential:

dze - introduction to prepare the viewer, convey the atmosphere; lasts longer than other parts;
ha – development of events containing a climax;
kyu - unexpected outcome; the shortest part in duration.

The Japanese believe that choreography, along with calligraphy, ikebana and other types of decorative and applied arts, has a great effect on the cultural development of girls and the revelation of their feminine energy.

Try a simple Bon Odori Folk Dance album

Bon Odori is a folk festival celebrated in Japan in May. Group dance often uses paper fans, either an open zepzi or a fan with flat paper. The dances are circular, energetic and carefree. Place these basic steps together to create a repeating Bon Odori dance choreography. Remember to stay low on contact with the ground and use your practice with the fan open to hold it properly.

Facing the center of the circle of dancers with your open fan in your right hand, palm facing left.
Lift the fan's chest and "clap" it three times with the flat palm of your left hand.
Take the right kimono with your left hand as you twist your right plan to make the fan flat. (Imagine catching raindrops on a fan.)
Step one as you swing the fan across your body, low and to the left. Let your eyes and head follow the fan.
Take three steps to the right, lifting the fan and slowly turning it so that it ends exactly at head height. Follow the movement of the fan with your head.
Reach your left arm forward and place the fan under your left elbow as you tap once to the left. You should be facing the center of the circle.
Raise the fan and pick up the right kimono with your left hand again, keeping your left hand close to the center of the chest.
Take six large steps to turn completely clockwise. Flip the raised fan from top to bottom, alternating each step.
Start on your right foot and take three steps into the center of the circle, spreading your arms wide in a graceful arc.
Take three steps back to widen the circle again and extend your arms in an arc again.
Turn to the right, extending your right arm forward while keeping the fan level. The left palm is placed flat on top of the right elbow. Lower the fan up and down as an invitation.
Turn left and repeat the move.
Bend your knees, keep both palms flat, arms extended, hands close together.
Lean forward slightly and step forward with your right foot as you sweep both arms down and to your sides, "tracing the shape of Mount Fuji."
Step back with your right foot as you grab your right kimono with your left hand and stand up straight.
Bend your knees again, bending your right elbow to bring the flat fan in front of the chest.
Take three steps forward, clicking the horizontal fan once on each step.
Align and lower your left arm.
Rotate your right palm while holding the fan to the left. The fan will be vertical.
Clap the fan three times with your left palm. On the third lad, turn to the center.

The combination can be repeated to continue the dance.

Two kinds

There are two main types of national dances:

Literally meaning “to rotate”, this concept points to its origins - women used to perform ritual dances in the temple, moving in a circle, while they held various plants. In this way they prayed to the deities to grant them a fertile and peaceful state.

A similar ritual became the basis for dance - peaceful, soft, restrained. It also served as the basis for a theatrical performance in the traditional Noh style. In this case, dancing with fans began to symbolize walking with plants.

Odori

The term translates as “jump”, and this makes sense - in this dance the movements are sharp, as before a jump, rather rough and jerky. Initially, this appearance appeared as a result of the Jodo school of Buddhism, which included many peasants. Later, it gradually transformed into a separate art form - the kabuki theater, famous throughout the planet.

girls were hired as kabuki theater actors , but then a government decree was issued prohibiting the fair sex from playing in these theatrical productions. Then their place, even in the roles of women, was taken by men.

Japanese dance styles

There are two main directions in Japanese dance: mai and odori. The movements in the performances of the Mai category are calm and smooth, and the main attention is paid to the gestures of the dancers, and odori is characterized by its impetuosity and special musical accompaniment. Dances of the Mai direction were performed during rituals, and in odori, with the help of gestures and movements, a certain performance was played out: the life of ordinary people and natural phenomena were told.

Many dance movements come from ancient rituals that were performed to summon the souls of the dead or to change the weather. Such dances have long been known to all residents and are considered traditional; they remain practically unchanged for many years. It was only in the 20th century that Japanese dance culture underwent innovations and completely new movements appeared.

Other varieties

Dancing in the Land of the Rising Sun appeared more than a millennium ago. In the first poetic anthologies “Nihongi” and “Kojiki” one can find legends telling about the solar deity Amaterasu. The goddess hid in a cave, but her attention was attracted by the dance movements of the deity Ama-no, and she looked out from the cover.

This species is called "kagura" and is considered the oldest in Japan. In addition, there are several other varieties of dance that have appeared over time:

Mim-gigaku - borrowed from Chinese and Korean territories, thoroughly imbued with symbolism. The dancers, who were mostly men, dressed in colorful lion costumes and performed acrobatic feats. There are several variations, such as the samurai mime-gagaku.

Furo is court choreography of the 12th-13th centuries, personifying an imperial conversation with a minister. In general, even little boys and girls could participate in dance performances at the palace.
Surgaku - characterized by rhythm and expressiveness, is part of the performance accompanied by music.
Kovakamai is a dance of three men to the accompaniment of a warlike choir and musical instruments: drums, pipes.

Nembutsu is a ritual dance number performed in Buddhist monasteries on memorial days.
Llomanzay - performed primarily on New Year's Day and is intended to pray for peace and good fortune in the coming year. A mandatory accessory is a fan, and the dancers depict birds, plants, and boats, which in itself is the personification of happiness.
Sakura is a celebration of spring, sun, clear sky and sakura flowers. The choreographic steps are invariably performed by girls.

Butoh is a modern look, sensual, full of expression. The performers are smeared with a thick layer of makeup and half naked, and the movements are designed to show the search for the meaning of life, inner emptiness.

All these and many other dances can be seen firsthand at the Awa Dance Festival, held annually in mid-August in the city of Shikoku.

Modern Dance (Shinbuyo)

"Butoh." Literally translated as “dance of darkness.” Appeared in 1959 and is a production of choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata. This is a completely new type of dance art, unlike anything else. Hijikata paid special attention to the dancers' bodies rather than their body movements.
Minyo-Odori. Appeared after World War II. Dancers dance in a circle around a specially built tower in the center of a square or park to the music of Ondo. Reminiscent of traditional Dento-Odori, but performed simply for fun and not for any purpose.
Since 1929, a new type of dance art began to develop in Japan - ballet. The first ballet dancers studied this art abroad and returned home as trained artists. 30 years later, the first ballet association of Japan was created, which was engaged in staging ballets from the repertoire of foreign classics. At the same time, the first Japanese ballet school named after. Tchaikovsky, which subsequently produced more than one world ballet star.

Dancing is a true national asset of Japan and always fascinates with its grace and elegance. You can watch them for hours and admire the spiritual and physical dedication of the dancers every time. To understand the meaning of the dance, you need not only to be familiar with the culture of Japan, but also to be able to perceive the emotions of others. If you succeed, then Japanese dance will remain in your heart and memory for a long time.

Schools

In modern Japan, there are various dance schools, and choreography has always been part of the geisha training program. Here there is the so-called “iemomoto” methodology, where the head of the institution is a professional person who selects a curriculum for teachers, issues licenses, and draws up a composition. He also chooses the necessary accessories - a fan, sword, umbrella, headdress or mask.

Japanese who begin training and achieve a good level of skill can still devote the rest of their lives to honing their skills. If we talk about the names of specific schools related to the direction, then the main ones include Fujima-ryu, Nakamura, Bando, Iwada, Nishikawa and many others.

Sensu fan selection

Pleated fans, or zepzi, used for dancing are more durable and more decorative than beautiful paper fans, which provide a pleasant summer breeze. Look for senza made of heavy colored paper with leaf or bamboo “sticks” and “guards”, internal and end pieces that serve as the spine for the material, and open and close the fan. Guards that overhang slightly at the tips protect the thin paper or silk edges of the fan when it is closed. Some dance fans are made from silk, which can be woven, embroidered or patterned.

Kagura

Kojiki is an ancient Japanese myth of darkness and light in which the sun goddess is lured from her cave by a ritual offering and a sacred dance. Kagura is the name of temple dances inspired by myth and typically tells all or part of the story of the return of the sun. The mythological dance was quite heady and seductive, but the derivative dances of the Kagura Shrine are calmer rituals and can be performed in a slow movement that emphasizes every gesture and every use of symbolic props.

Try the low Kagura step to evaluate how developed your quads are for this dance.

Raise yourself high with your knees and your legs slightly straightened.
Jump/jump into squats while sitting low between your knees. Your feet are now wide apart—about three feet apart—and your knees are over your feet, pointing out to the sides.
Lift your right heel, shifting your weight to your left foot.
Slowly lift your right leg toward you until just your toes touch the ground.
Point your foot, lift it off the floor, and then remove it, stepping forward and forward as you do.
Continue to “walk” in the direction in which you are dancing, staying low to the ground in a squat and never straightening your knees. More difficult than it seems!