What is Okinawan Dance?
Okinawan dance is the traditional dance that has developed in Okinawa prefecture, which includes the southernmost islands of Japan.
Okinawan dance is also called Ryukyu dance or Ryukyu Buyo, since it was originally developed during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, between the 15th and 19th centuries.
There are three basic genres of Ryukyu dance: Classical dance (or Court dance), Zo dance and Folk dance.
Classical dance was developed at the Royal Court during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and was performed to entertain Chinese envoys and Japanese clans. Classical dance movements are generally slow in tempo, with dancers keeping their feet on or close to the floor at all times, and; wearing colorful clothing called Ryukyu Bingata.
Zo dance developed in the local theaters after the Ryukyu Kingdom era ended with the creation of Okinawa Prefecture in the late 19th century. Zo dancers dress in casual kimono like those worn by ordinarily people, but Zo dance movements are much more energetic and fast in tempo.
In learning Okinawan dance, students get to experience both formal classical and Zo dances, dancing roles that express love and other aspects of the human condition.
The other type of Okinawan dance is called folk dance. It dates back to the 600s, and has evolved ever since from the ceremonial arts used by priestesses to express their appreciation to the gods in the spirit of prayer.
Folk dances often incorporate the use of an unusual type of drum called Eisa [E-i-sa-] – Bon dance (or bon odori), which are becoming very popular not only Okinawa but throughout Japan.
About Instructor
Junko Fisher was born in Yomitan Village, on the main island of Okinawa, Japan. Her late uncle, a professional actor in the Taishin Za theatre group and a dancer of the Miyagi Ryu Okinawa Dance Company, took Junko to the theatre when she was only six months, to play the part of a baby in a play, a part for which she was well suited for at the time.
Junko began practicing Okinawan Dance at the age of five, when her mother, also a dancer, began taking Junko along to dance school. Starting with her first performance at the age of seven, at the Yomitan Village Town Hall. She had numerous performance experiences during her years in Okinawa.
Junko moved to Tokyo after graduating high school and studied Japanese traditional dance at the Gojo Ryu School while she was attending college. She attained her certificate of Natori, Gojo Miyano. Her first performance in that style was at the National Theatre in Tokyo in 1985.
Junko has 28 years experience of dancing, including both Japanese and Okinawan dance. She resides in New York City, where she focuses on Ryukyu Performing Arts as a member of the Miyagi Ryu Nosho-kai Ryukyu Dance School, and she is an instructor of the New York branch school.
Date & Time: Every Tuesday 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Class Fee: $25 for Adult / $18 for Student
February 22, 2012 at 1:32 pm 
February 16, 2012 at 9:40 pm 
January 25, 2012 at 3:23 pm 
January 6, 2012 at 6:39 pm 
