Tokijyo Hanasaki - Jiutamai "KANAWA"

Jiutamai dance is among the most elegant of classical Japanese dances. Performed in castles and palaces in historic times, it was later introduced into middle-class and upper-class families. This dance has also been performed in the entertainment quarters by maiko of Kyoto and geiko of Osaka. Its history is said to be over 400 years old, originating with spiritual dances dedicated to the gods. Jiutamai dance did not develop for performance on a large stage; rather, this style evolved as dances performed in an intimate space where the audience was able to view the performance close at hand. As this mode of dance allows viewers and performers to share the spirit of the moment, the choreography is based on natural human movements, with subtler phrasing than the exaggerated gestures of the Kabuki dancing style. The basic movements Jiutamai are actually closer to those of Noh performances, which influenced the dance form. As Jiuta (classical chamber music) started with the Biwa (Japanese lute) played in the Muromachi Era (16th century) when the Shamisen had not yet come into vogue, it can be considered that Jiutamai dance also started at that time. Before the Meiji Era (latter 19th century), Jiutamai was simply called Mai, or dance.
Chaondou” to utwór nawiązujący do ceremonii herbacianej, choreografia zawiera elementy przygotowywania herbaty. Tekst piosenki wyraża miłość młodej dziewczyny, opisując przedmioty do ceremonii herbacianej i krajobraz uprawy zielonej herbaty. Taniec kończy się modlitwą, aby ta miłość trwała wiecznie.

[@hiram-2211]

I saw it yesterday in Krakow's Manggha Museum.