Piczo

Japanese Dance and Me

So January 28th, 2007 marked a pretty interesting event in the course of my life. I had my first ever dance recital. This being said, I did ACTUALLY dance. As you may or may not know I am a member of the Tosajoshi Traditional Dance club. It wasn't my choice exactly to the club exactly, but after last sunday I am very glad to be a part of the club. The club meets ever Thursday from 3:40 to 5:00 in the front building, 4th floor, Calligraphy room. At sometime after the bell rings, after school cleaning and whatever else may be going on, the 6 members (5 now because Yuhko just graduated) head up to the room, usually at different times. In the room we set up by pushing the felt desks out of the way to form a mini stage. Then we all reach into the cabinet for our Yukatas. This is because every practice is like that of a recital, meaning we are dressed from head to toe in Traditional Japanese clothing. It takes a good long time to get the thing on. My Yukata is borrowed from the teacher. It is black with variously pale colored flowers. The Obi, or belt/sash type thing that holds everything together is bright pink with dragonflies. As I put on the Yukata, the 5 other member drift in and set up as well. The members are the club are all very nice. There is Yuhko, who just graduated, and always helps me put on my Yukata because I really can't do it without looking like a dunderhead, Yurie, last year's exchange student in New Jersey, Mana, my friend from the school exursion of whom I shared a bed with (and ended up on the floor), and Marina and Ayako, next's years exchange students to America. Basically Tosajoshi's entire involvement with Youth exchange are members of the club, this is because Rotary wants it's ambassadors to learn a traditional art to perfrom in front of host Rotary clubs. Anyway, sometime between all these arrivals, the lovely teacher strolls in donning her beautiful Yukata and scary face that clearly says 'mess with me and I you will pay.' Yukimi-Sensei, is probably one of my favorite teachers that I have had to encounter here in Japan. She is a famous professional dancer, who often takes her performances to the most famous stages of Kyoto. In Kochi, she is a local celebrity, probably because, although she does most of her shows all over the country, she calls Kochi her home and often returns. Another of her activities is that of a teacher, a highly expensive well sought out teacher of the old dancing. But she is an alumni of the renowned Tosajoshi All Girl School, and feels it her obligation to teach a few select students her trade. The teacher is quite mean looking, there is no point in trying to hide that little fact about her. However she is the warmest, most generous, and kind woman you willl ever encounter, if you can push aside the evil glares. And she absolutely adores her exchange student learner. Always giving me extra help, placing me in the middle, altering routines when I am incapable of performing the action (which happens quite often mind you.) When Yukimi-sensei walks thru the sliding door she greets us all warmly and then usually pushes Yuhko aside to help me with my Yukata, always muttering that I am going to have to learn to do this eventually. Which is true, but I personally think she likes putting on my Yukata. Afterwards she makes a few announcements and then ushers into the make shift stage where we practice. For the past few months, we have been practicing the song Sakura Sakura, which is the very traditional Japanese song that you will hear when you walk into a wanna-be Japanese restaurant. I have honestly been practicing very hard, even bringing the tape home to perfect it. And it has payed off. A few weeks ago, Yukime-sensei charged through the sliding doors like she was in the Running of the Bull Festival in Spain, her grin, as chilling as it was, was oddly making us all inquisitive. It was then that she announced her Kochi esteemed Dance recital and the fact that the Tosajoshi girls would have an act amongst all her other students. For the records, most of these students, we later learned, had been doing her lessons for years and were past the amateur level. And for those of you, who know me well enough, know that I have never danced in private let alone on a stage in front of old Japanese ladies, asthetics of the art of dancing, professional dancers, and basically just a whole bunch of people. I am truly about as coordinated as a someone with Parkinsons trying to draw the Horizon. It's true- I had nearly completed my training of Sakura Sakura, but still thinking about doing it in front of people! I thought of a million perfectly acceptable excuses on how to get out of the dance. But everytime I went to use them, I saw Yukimi-sensei's grin and how proud of me she was becoming. I couldn't bring myself to let her down. And that brings me to January 28, 2007. My alarm clock rung at exactly the time it was perscribed to. Damn. That would have been a god excuse to get out of this whole mess. I quickly scurried around the room for some clothes, camera, wallet, and makeup, threw it all in a bag and then hurried to get to the school. I was to meet up with Yuhko and Mana at 9:30, where we would walk to the Kochi Grand Hotel. After a quick breakfast, I met the girls and started the quick walk to the hotel. And when we arrived, a group of old ladies recognized us. "AH! There is the gaijin! She IS as cute as Yukimi-sensei claims! Look at those cheeks! What a cutie!" If I was in a country where the people are sane, or at least not so enthusiastic, I would probably be embarrassed beyond my wits. But this sort of thing happens everyday. So I smiled and introduced myself and allowed the ladies to haul Yuhko, Mana, and myself thru a hotel and into a medium sized, Tatemi covered floor, with Japanese Kimono items strewn all around. The dressing room. The ladies broke up into 3 groups for on of us girls (there was a fight over who would get to dress up the foreigner.) I recall hearing Mana remark that she felt so unloved. My group, 3 midget like old woman with pale grey hair, all dressed in pink and purple Yukatas, pointed to my Western style outfit and gestured for me to take it off. And so I did. And the next thing I knew, I was being wrapped in the underlayer of the Kimono. It takes at least 30 minutes to get a Kimono on, and mind you, that's pushing the minimum. And these 3o minutes are incredibly unfun for the thing being dressed up. After a few layers of under garments, the woman started the task of teaching me to forget what breathing feels like. They pulled another layer on me, so tight, I began to think that they wanted revenge for World War II. At one point, and all jokes aside, I really couldn't breathe. Thus with no breath I was unable to tell them to stop pulling, even though I wouldn't have been able to say that in Japanese anyway. I kind of just jumped around and attempted sign langauge, which merited a few more *cute* remarks until someone realized I was turning blue. I began to pity the Japanese woman of the olden days, wondering how they learned the secrets to not breathing for days at a time. The answer dawned on me rather quickly, though. As one lady led me into another room with a mirror, I saw myself donning a beautiful purple rainbow flowered Kimono. For how incredibly painful the process of putting the sucker on was, I seemed to forget about it instantly and instead got lost in the beauty of the Kimono. The Kimono, is one just one of those cultural things that holds the secrets and the mysterious of an entire peole all within a few stiches and patterns. It's impossible to really explain it until you see yourself in a new way, being clothed in a miracle. A miracle of new enlightenment. After the mirror encounter, I met up with Mana, sporting a black with tan sunflower Kimono, and Yuhko, bearing a black with pink Sakura Kimono. No point in denying that we looked stunning. The concert was about to start, but I insisted on one final practice. So with out new paper fans attached into the Obi, we trodded upstairs for one final practice. My stomach was uneasy and mind raced over what would hapen if I messed up. The dance was different, Yurie, Ayaka, and Marina had testing and couldn't attend till later. Plus another girl was assisting us in our dance. There was no chance of me backing out, and even if there was, the memory of Yukimi-sensei's face full of utmost pride when I finally completed a perfect number of Sakura Sakura, was etched into my mind. And though I was almost too nervous to get through the practice, I was surronded by Mana and Yuhko, 2 friends who had cheered for me, practiced with me, helped me out, and were just all around good friends who I couldn't let down. When our practice was done we headed downstairs and were as usual greeted warmly from Yukimi-sensei who had just arrived. She took one look at me and called me pure and utterly beautiful. Soon the first dance had begun. The performer, a 5 year-old little boy, was incredible! He twisted and flung his paper fans high into the hair and caused Yukimi-sensei to brag to one of the old ladies who had dressed Mana in Kimono. When he was finished, Yukimi-sensei, pulled aside Yuhko, Me, Mana, and the recently added performer to wish us good luck. She gave me an extra warm smile. With the curtian closed, we tiptoed on stage and hid behind a large prop. The curtain opened and I heard myself moan. Yuhko whispered from in front of me a final "Ganbatte!" (Hang in there, Good Luck medley) The song began and I found myself following Yuhko onto the open stage. The spot lights blared on the 4 dancers as we made our fans float through the air. Many spectators watched only only one of the dancers- the one who was not Japanese but performing a traditional dance to Japanese beloved music- and not doing to bad at all. To say I was perfect, would be a complete an utter lie. There were a few times when Mana and Yuhko's fans went rights, and Julie's fan went left. There was a point when I totally forgot to kneel down, allowing myself to be the only dancer standing. But other than these few minor and perfectly acceptable mistakes, I had done really really well. And when I peered over to where Yukimi-sensei was hovering, a smile with almost no hint of scariness appeared she waved, which I translated to be a double thumbs up. I did it. The song ended quickly and we scurried off stage. Mana and I joined the crowd t watch Yuhko give her final performance as a Tosajoshi student. And she was perfect. I clapped and cheered the loudest for her and she turned bright crimson as the curtain closed. Yukimi-sensei congratulated us and took some pictures with us until she had to scamper off for her next performer. The 3 Tosajoshi students headed upstairs for a brief lunch of sushi rice and waited for Yurie, Marina, and Ayaka to join us. Then we would be dancing to Sakura Sakura again with the whole club, minus Mana because she had to leave to take an English test at school. Yurie arrived first, followed by Marina and Ayaka. My good friend and teacher, Kitazoe-sensei arrived afterwards and forced us all to take dozens of pictures. After Yurie, Marina, and Ayaka ate a quick Sushi Rice lunch. They headed downstairs to be placed into Kimono. Yuhko and I watched as Marina and Ayaka went through the excruciating annoyance of learning not to breath. But in the end, they too, looked gorgeous. Before we went back on stage, Yurie's mother, Sae Hirosue arrived and took my camera for some nice shots of the performance. Yukimi-sensei scuttled back into the room to inform us to be ready. I was all set with my new confidence resting gently in my heart. Ayaka and Marina, on the other hand, we freaking out. When the curtain was pulled we tip toed back on stage. Yuhko and I said, synchronized and as if perfectly planned, "Ganbatte!" at Marina and Ayaka as the fretted predictably. And the song began. This time, I wasn't nervous but relaxed but probably the most important thing was I was not scared of messing up but scared of not enjoying myself. I smiled and even chuckled through the whole dance. I probably messed up a bit more than the first time, but I was enjoying myself. And when they danced ended, the applause was loud and comforting. We did it! And we did a good job, according to the huge grin and tears in Yukimi-sensei eyes. After scurrying off stage and back to the dressing room, I had some time to speak with Marina and Ayaka, the next generation of exchange students. We talked in Japanglish and truthfully I saw myself a year ago in their eyes. The same hunger for adventure but fear in leaving everything from behind. I told them whenever I miss home, I just look around at my new friends, wonderful host families, and amazing life as a Japanese person. It always works.