Tokyo Dontaku

TOKYO DONTAKU
Japanese

PRONUNCIATION: TOH-kyoh dohn-TAH-koo

TRANSLATION: Bon Odori dance of Tokyo

SOURCE: Madelynne Greene learned this dance in Hawaii and taught it to folk dancers in the United States in the 1960s.

BACKGROUND: Tokyo Dontaku is a "Bon Odori" dance, a special dance of the O-Bon Festival in Japan. During the O-Bon, or Feast of the Dead, Buddhists throughout Japan honor the souls of their ancestors. In Tokyo, the festival is held during the third week of July. Sometimes called The Feast of Lanterns, the O-Bon is held at other times of the year in other parts of Japan. For instance, the festival is held at Nikko during the first week of August, at Nagasaki during the second week of August, and at Okinawa during the third week of August. It is also one of the largest festivals held on Sado Island. Thousands of lighted paper lanterns are launched on rivers and lakes to carry the ancestors' spirits (who had returned to earth during this time) back to heaven.

MUSIC: Express (45 rpm) E-212
Folk Dancer (45 rpm) MH-2050
Star (45 rpm) S-8414
Geisler, Richard. "Tokyo Dontaku" (sheet music), Village Dance Music from Around the World, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION: Cir of individual dancers facing CCW, hands at sides.

METER/RHYTHM: 4/4

STEPS/STYLE: Due to the restrictions of the kimono worn by the dancers, the steps are small. From long tradition, the steps are slightly pigeon-toed, and the knees are slightly bent and close together. The thumb is kept under the index finger, the fingers are kept together, and the hands and arms are moved gracefully.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-8 No action.

THE DANCE

1 CEREMONIAL BOW: Facing and moving in LOD, step R fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 1); step L fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3);

2 Step R, bending knee, while leaving L in place as hands are crossed in front of chest, palms down (ct 1); step back onto L as hands are swept down and out to sides (ct 2); step R next to L, clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3).

3 PADDLE BOAT: As if paddling a boat, step L moving both hands bwd along L side (ct 1); step R, moving both hands bwd along R side (ct 3).

4 LOOK IN MIRROR: Step L, bringing L hand in front of L ear with palm bwd as if pulling back the hair while R hand is extended fwd with palm fwd and fingers up as if looking into a mirror (ct 1); repeat action of ct 1 with opp ftwk and handwk (ct 2); repeat action of ct 1 (ct 3).

5 MAKE TREE: Step R with toe pointed outside, bending knees deeply, and with rounded arms, touch finger tips at knee level with palms up (ct 1); straightening knees, bring arms outward and up and, with rounded arms, and touch fingertips overhead with palms up as L heel is brought up behind to raise "kimono" off of floor, shin parallel to floor (ct 3);

6 Repeat action of meas 5 to ctr with opp ftwk.

7 HOLD SLEEVE: Stepping R,L,R, turn slowly to face out of cir while R hand is held at head level, palm bwd, and L hand is held under R elbow as if keeping "kimono sleeve" from swinging (cts 1,2,3);

8 Repeat action of meas 7 to ctr with opp ftwk and handwk.

Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes

TOKYO DONTAKU Japanese

PRONUNCIATION:	TOH-kyoh dohn-TAH-koo

TRANSLATION:	Bon Odori dance of Tokyo

SOURCE:	Madelynne Greene learned this dance in Hawaii and taught it to folk dancers in the United States in the 1960s.

BACKGROUND:	Tokyo Dontaku is a "Bon Odori" dance, a special dance of the O-Bon Festival in Japan. During the O-Bon, or Feast of the Dead, Buddhists throughout Japan honor the souls of their ancestors. In Tokyo, the festival is held during the third week of July. Sometimes called The Feast of Lanterns, the O-Bon is held at other times of the year in other parts of Japan. For instance, the festival is held at Nikko during the first week of August, at Nagasaki during the second week of August, and at Okinawa during the third week of August. It is also one of the largest festivals held on Sado Island. Thousands of lighted paper lanterns are launched on rivers and lakes to carry the ancestors' spirits (who had returned to earth during this time) back to heaven.

MUSIC:	Express (45 rpm) E-212 Folk Dancer (45 rpm) MH-2050 Star (45 rpm) S-8414 Geisler, Richard. "Tokyo Dontaku" (sheet music), Village Dance Music from Around the World, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION:	Cir of individual dancers facing CCW, hands at sides.

METER/RHYTHM:	4/4

STEPS/STYLE:	Due to the restrictions of the kimono worn by the dancers, the steps are small. From long tradition, the steps are slightly pigeon-toed, and the knees are slightly bent and close together. The thumb is kept under the index finger, the fingers are kept together, and the hands and arms are moved gracefully.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-8	No action.

	THE DANCE

1	CEREMONIAL BOW: Facing and moving in LOD, step R fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 1); step L fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3);
2	Step R, bending knee, while leaving L in place as hands are crossed in front of chest, palms down (ct 1); step back onto L as hands are swept down and out to sides (ct 2); step R next to L, clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3).

3	PADDLE BOAT: As if paddling a boat, step L moving both hands bwd along L side (ct 1); step R, moving both hands bwd along R side (ct 3).

4	LOOK IN MIRROR: Step L, bringing L hand in front of L ear with palm bwd as if pulling back the hair while R hand is extended fwd with palm fwd and fingers up as if looking into a mirror (ct 1); repeat action of ct 1 with opp ftwk and handwk (ct 2); repeat action of ct 1 (ct 3).

5	MAKE TREE: Step R with toe pointed outside, bending knees deeply, and with rounded arms, touch finger tips at knee level with palms up (ct 1); straightening knees, bring arms outward and up and, with rounded arms, and touch fingertips overhead with palms up as L heel is brought up behind to raise "kimono" off of floor, shin parallel to floor (ct 3);
6	Repeat action of meas 5 to ctr with opp ftwk.

7	HOLD SLEEVE: Stepping R,L,R, turn slowly to face out of cir while R hand is held at head level, palm bwd, and L hand is held under R elbow as if keeping "kimono sleeve" from swinging (cts 1,2,3);
8	Repeat action of meas 7 to ctr with opp ftwk and handwk.

	Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes