Warabi-za ensemble from Akita prefecture to perform traditional Japanese folk dance and music, Feb. 18
Topic: Folk Ensemble
Japan’s renowned folk dance ensemble Warabi-za makes a return appearance at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre at Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Little Tokyo, on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. as part of its 2006 U.S. tour. The company, based in the Akita prefecture, presents a program of traditional Japanese folk performing arts. They are recognized for its energetic dance, music and taiko.

The program will showcase works from various prefectures in Japan. Dances that celebrate the joy of life (Aomori) the daily life of fishermen (Hokkaido and Kumamoto), farmers' prayers for rain (Ishikawa) and rice planting (Hiroshima). Dances from traditional Japanese festivals that celebrate a good harvest (Miyagi), festivities from a night festival (Saitama) and an ancient performing art piece of the Tohoku region of Iwate prefecture.

Highlights include a creative dance piece as a prayer for children's growth through hardships danced in the disguise of mother lioness and her cub (Kagawa prefecture) and a traditional dance characterized by wave-like movements in Sado Island (home of the famed Kodo group) (Niigata prefecture).

Warabi-za was founded in February 1951 and has created many works based on traditional music and dance throughout Japan for 55 years. Performing throughout Japan, the company has appeared in many parts of the world, including two tours to the U.S. in 1997 and 2002.

Folk performing arts have been handed down for centuries from ancestors, providing a zest for living. A characteristics of Japanese folk performing arts is that many of them have been germinated from daily life work and resulting in strengthening of the bond of the people. Another characteristic is the appreciation for the beauty of nature or the expression of life or wishes through animals -in other words, these works depict our live-and-let-live attitude with nature. (The program of Feb. 18 performance is lasted in page 5.)

The 2006 U.S. Warabi-za tour is under the direction of Hiroshi Kuriki, with composition and choreography by Kenji Osakake and music direction by Masaru Iijima. The tour coordinated by An Creative Inc. and is sponsored by The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japanese government.

Tickets are available for $30 orchestra, $27 balcony and $ 27 and $25 for JACCC Members and groups of 10 or more. Call the Aratani/Japan America Theatre Box office at (213) 680-3700, open Monday - Saturday from 12 noon to 5pm. The Japan America Theatre is located at 244 S. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. Convenient parking is located on San Pedro Street across from the Theatre.

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Warabi-za ensemble from Akita prefecture has been performing traditional Japanese folk dance and music for 55 years throughout Japan.