By Alyson Yamaguchi and Lauren Kita
Many of you have probably enjoyed the various festivities at the Venice Japanese Community Center’s annual Summer Festival. We have all enjoyed the delicious foods and have had fun playing at the many game booths. As part of the VJCC Mission Statement, the Summer Festival is also a time to “preserve, share and promote the Japanese and Japanese-American culture and heritage…”. There are many cultural exhibits and demonstrations at the Festival, one being the art of Japanese dance. Nihon Buyo is the art of classical Japanese dance, which is closely related to Kabuki, the more dramatic and stylized theater of Japan. The performers wear elaborate kimonos and traditional hairstyles and make-up. This traditional dance dates back many centuries with its origins coming from a |
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Fujima Seiyumi, the Japanese dance teacher at the Community Center, has been practicing and teaching dance for many years. She received her professional teaching certification (also known as shihan) in Japan and has had the opportunity to perform in various commemorative recitals at the Kabukiza in Tokyo, the National Theatre of Japan and at the local Japan America Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. She received her professional name from the Fujima School of Japanese Classical Dance.
What had originally been intended to be a hobby has now turned into a full time job for Seiyumi Sensei, who currently has over seventy students--ranging from elementary school age and up--learning the classical art of Japanese dance. She enjoys the creative aspect of dance and tries to create dances to different genres of music. She finds her students to be a great source of inspiration and shares a variety of dance with them, ranging from the very traditional to the very contemporary.
Many of Seiyumi Sensei’s students are fourth generation (or yonsei) girls who also participate in other activities such as basketball, tennis, track and cheerleading. Seiyumi Sensei states that Japanese dance is just another important aspect of their learning experience. In the class, the emphasis is on dancing but they also gain insight into the language and culture of Japan. The students agree that dancing helps them connect with the Japanese language and culture. They add that it also teaches them the art of being graceful and builds their confidence in being in front of a group of people. It’s also a lot of fun being with one’s friends and learning the importance of teamwork and discipline. Student Kaile Nakao has learned much about her culture through Japanese dance. She feels proud when she’s dressed up in her costume and in make-up for a performance. Kaile enjoys performing in front of people because she gets to show them what she has worked so hard on. Kristina and Kylie Yano also add that Japanese dance makes their grandparents proud to see them learn more about their culture.
If you are interested in learning more about the art of Japanese dance, Fujima Seiyumi teaches classes at the Venice Community Center on Saturdays and welcomes anyone who is interested in dance and wants to learn about the Japanese culture. She also offers classes at other locations in Orange County, the South Bay, San Fernando, and Little Tokyo.
by Alex Nishimoto
Casey Kono |
Casey Kono has spent roughly twenty years of his life studying and practicing Hula. Now, he shares his knowledge and experience with others as the VJCC’s very own Hula instructor. For the past four years, he has been offering his skills and expertise to the community and has since gained an outlook on the future of the Center. Generally he would like to see the Center grow to accommodate
all the groups, clubs, and events that use its facilities.
Adequate as the facilities already are, he would still like
to see the VJCC expand, possibly by adding a new building
such as a social hall. He hopes these ideas will be considered
in the next year and eventually realized within the next five
years. |
