TOKYO—Many women came to the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 Spectacular at the Hitomi Memorial Auditorium in Tokyo on Feb. 11. in colorful traditional Japanese kimonos to celebrate the founding of the Japanese nation by the emperor, Jimmu, 660 B.C.
The minister of the Japanese Folk Dance Union, Ms. Yamaguchi, was seeing the show for the first time. “It really moves people, I am so grateful that this show is held.
“I learned a lot, and I think I am going to integrate some things into our dance too. For example, the fans in the [dance] Welcoming Spring are like magic. All of a sudden, they transform.” She described the effect as “joyful.” Welcoming Spring, known for its floral scene, depicts the coming of spring following a harsh winter. The crisp movements and rapid footwork of this fan dance usher in the new season.
Through DPA’s presentation of Chinese classical dance, Ms. Yamaguchi experienced “mind perfection.” She said that although Japanese traditional dance also focuses on one’s mind, “It’s far from enough.” She plans to bring more friends next year to share the experience.
“I saw that all the performers formed one body. They worked together and didn’t ... make any individual stand out. Everyone strove to embrace the theme enthusiastically. This method of performance is very good,” she said.
