Miyako Odori
The Miyako Odori (都をどり) is one of the four great spring shows in the five geisha districts (hanamachi) of Kyōto, Japan. The dances, songs, and theater productions presented in the framework of the Miyako Odori are performed by the maiko and geiko of the Gion quarter. The motifs draw from classical Japanese culture and incorporate everyday life as well as folkloristic elements, for example from the Tale of Genji.[1]
The Miyako Odori takes place four times a day from the 1st to the 30th of April at the Gion Kōbu Kaburen-jo theatre near the Yasaka Shrine. It was celebrated for the first time in 1872. Originally it was a part of the general cultural revival of Kyoto after the court was moved to Tokyo in 1869. Meanwhile, the Miyako Odori is part of the heart of cultural life in Kyoto and attracts many visitors.[2]
A dance in the Miyako Odori may involve 32 maiko and geiko and 20 musicians in identical costumes, often performing in unison.[3]
References
- ^ https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/miyako-odori
- ^ https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/miyako-odori
- ^ Jonah Salz (ed.). A History of Japanese Theatre. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107034242.
External links
Media related to Miyako odori at Wikimedia Commons
