JPANESE DANCE – A Little Background
Whether or not this is your first experience with the ancient art of Traditional Japanese Dance, we hope your enjoyment will be enhanced by a brief explanation.
One of the principal "schools" of Japanese Dance, Yamamura-ryu("of the house of Yamamura"), originated over 200 years ago in the Kansai area of Japan. The founder of the Yamamura house or school was Tomogoro Yamamura. He was a choreographer for the kabuki stage and it was in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe where his dances were performed. These cities are known as the Kamigata area, so the Yamamura-ryu dances are of the Kamigata-mai(Kamigata dance style). A further distinction is made in the case of dances performed typically on tatami (straw) mats in a "local" or jiuta-mai style.
Back in the Edo period, these dances were performed for the benefit of merchants visiting Osaka on business. Often the host would customize the dances to include popular topics of the day or pertaining to the visitor’s home town. In the later Meiji period, it was considered a social "must" for educated ladies to learn this elegant dance style.
Profile of Shoko Yamamura 2004～2016 (MAKO Hattori)
Mako Hattori, better known in Japan’s entertainment world, began working as a fashion model at the age of 15. Two years later she became “The Face” of Kanebo Cosmetics.Since then, Mako has worked extensively in print, television and film both in Japan and internationally. To date she has appeared in a dozen films and over two hundred television productions.Having great natural ability and interest in all forms of dance, Mako returned to her childhood training in traditional Japanese dance in 2002 and, since then, has focused on achieving the highest levels of skill and professionalism. She has been a frequent performer on the stages of Japan’s National Theaters in both Tokyo and Osaka.
Through her entertainment work, Mako has traveled to over 75 countries and had developed a fluency in English along the way. She values her experience as an opportunity to expand awareness of Japanese culture overseas and has already danced for numerous international audiences both in Japan and abroad. In addition to regular class and private lessons, Mako also demonstrates and regularly teaches Japanese dance at international schools in Tokyo, including the International School of the Sacred Heart.
Through her entertainment work, Mako has traveled to over 75 countries and had developed a fluency in English along the way. She values her experience as an opportunity to expand awareness of Japanese culture overseas and has already danced for numerous international audiences both in Japan and abroad. In addition to regular class and private lessons, Mako also demonstrates and regularly teaches Japanese dance at international schools in Tokyo, including the International School of the Sacred Heart.
Anyone wishing to know more about Japanese dance or having interest in enrolling in a Japanese dance class and How to wear KIMONO class should contact:
Office Mako
E-mail: makomail2016@gmail.com
