Workshop:
Fundamentals of Japanese Dance Technique — Simplified, Demystified, and Explained*
(* I have borrowed this phrase "Simplify, Demystify, Explain" from "Third Millennium Homeopathy" by Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD with his permission.)
If you have ever taken a Japanese dance lesson, chances are that you have heard your teacher say “Koshi o ire nasai.” However, your teacher may not have explained exactly how to koshi o ireru (see below). In Japanese dance lessons, students are expected to learn by watching and imitating the teacher.
Unlike this traditional watch-and-imitate method, Yamazaki’s approach breaks down seemingly simple but highly complex postures and movements into elements, and explain step by step how to move.
Through this analytical approach, you will:
This workshop consists of movement routines designed for learning the three most fundamental principles of Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo) technique.
1. Grounding (Koshi o ireru) Correctly koshi o ireru, which entails cultivating the awareness of:
2. Balancing (kata ashi dachi) Weight shifting and standing on one leg while maintaining the grounded (koshi-o-ireta) posture.
3. Changing directions Changing directions using nanba (body half without cross-lateral movements).
In short, through these exercises, you will learn how to be grounded, how to be balanced, and how to change directions when you need to.
Age: Adults and children ages 10 and older. Younger children may attend with the instructor’s permission.
Level: Appropriate for all levels from absolute beginners to experienced dancers
Length: 90 minutes
Language: English and Japanese
Fundamentals of Japanese Dance Technique — Simplified, Demystified, and Explained*
(* I have borrowed this phrase "Simplify, Demystify, Explain" from "Third Millennium Homeopathy" by Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD with his permission.)
If you have ever taken a Japanese dance lesson, chances are that you have heard your teacher say “Koshi o ire nasai.” However, your teacher may not have explained exactly how to koshi o ireru (see below). In Japanese dance lessons, students are expected to learn by watching and imitating the teacher.
Unlike this traditional watch-and-imitate method, Yamazaki’s approach breaks down seemingly simple but highly complex postures and movements into elements, and explain step by step how to move.
Through this analytical approach, you will:
- understand the anatomical functions involved in Japanese dance movements
- learn to reproduce postures and movements with accuracy
- gain the foundation on which to build technical expertise
This workshop consists of movement routines designed for learning the three most fundamental principles of Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo) technique.
1. Grounding (Koshi o ireru) Correctly koshi o ireru, which entails cultivating the awareness of:
- body alignment
- center of gravity and energy (lower dantian)
- unity of oppositions (yin-yang)
- body weight distribution on the sole of the foot
- sacrum breathing
- dorsiflexion
2. Balancing (kata ashi dachi) Weight shifting and standing on one leg while maintaining the grounded (koshi-o-ireta) posture.
3. Changing directions Changing directions using nanba (body half without cross-lateral movements).
In short, through these exercises, you will learn how to be grounded, how to be balanced, and how to change directions when you need to.
Age: Adults and children ages 10 and older. Younger children may attend with the instructor’s permission.
Level: Appropriate for all levels from absolute beginners to experienced dancers
Length: 90 minutes
Language: English and Japanese