On March 28, the Japanese dance company Takarabune visited campus for a performance and traditional Japanese dance workshop.
Takarabune is a creative dance company that performs Awa Odori, one of the most well-known Japanese traditional dances with a 450 year history. They push the limits of this venerable traditional art: their signature dance style is so aggressive and vigorous that it has been characterized as ‘dance beyond Awa Odori.’ Their performances at a number of Awa Odori events held in Tokyo have generated a growing interest among a variety of media, and the group has gained a reputation as the hottest Awa Odori group (ren) in Japan.
Takarabune was founded by Akira Yonezawa from Tokushima, the birthplace of Awa Odori. Though the members are mostly in their twenties, the majority of them have more than 10 years of experience. Their skilled dance, music, and dynamic per formances captivate audiences. In Takarabune, all members are dual-role experts trained both in dancing and musical accompaniment, unlike typical Awa Odori groups where members are divided into dancers and musical accompanists. This allows Takarabune to build a uniquely dynamic program on the stage.
Wataru Yonezawa, a member of the group and son of its founder, says that including new trends has always been part of Awa Odori. “During the Taisho era (1912-1926) and the beginning of Showa era (1926-1989), people began using European instruments such as the violin and the clarinet,” he explains. While evolution and varied instrumentation have always been part of the tradition, he observes that Awa Odori continues to be about dancing freely and interacting with other people.
Takarabune is carrying that tradition of evolution one step further by exploring traditional dance as a form of interactive place-making. “There is this image that traditional dance is something that you appreciate quietly,” Yonezawa says, “however, I feel that the value of performance art can go further and become something that you cannot feel unless you go to that place.”
The event was co-sponsored by East Asian Languages and Cultures; the East Asian Studies program; and the Performing Arts Department.
You can read more about the event in Student Life here.
View photos from the event on our Facebook page.
