Ryukyu traditional performance features masters

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Nothing is more Okinawan than karate.

There are many Ryukyu traditional performing arts shows on Okinawa, but none better than those performed by OBs who specialize in studying Ryukyu traditional performing arts at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.

Yotsudake is a traditional celebratory Ryukyu dance.

The OB group is comprised of some 130 members of the school’s highly skilled alumni who’ve performed in the front lines not only in Okinawa and mainland Japan, but overseas. The public has an opportunity to watch them perform on Saturday and Sunday at the Yuuna Hall, Onna Village Fureai Hand-on Experience Center. Two shows take place Saturday. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for a 2 p.m. show, and open again at 5:30 p.m. for a 6 p.m. presentation. On Sunday, March 1^st, there’s a single performance at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

Advance tickets for adults are ¥2,000, or ¥2,500 at door. Elementary, junior high and high school age and college students’ advance seating is ¥1,000 and ¥1,500 at door. Tickets are being sold at Onna Village Fureai Hand-on Experience Center, Road Station ‘Nakayukui Market’, and at the Onna Village Community Center

The OBs are literally the future leaders of Ryukyu traditional arts performers. They commemorated the 10^th anniversary of the OBs group last year, and are expected to be active in the future.

In the weekend performances, they play three parts. In the first part, they express the digest version of the performance of Ryukyu Kingdom era like a typical woman dance of celebration dressed in gorgeous Bingata costume, and a brave man’s classic dance. Agriculture, fishing and ordinary people’s life will be played by traditional Eisa, Karate and lion dances in the middle part of the show. The last part is the original performance, which was created by OBs of Ryukyu Prefectural University of Arts. It provides the audience the feel of authentic Ryukyu classic performing arts.

Other than the show, two types of events will take place as a joint event: an artist market and a curry fest. Artists of Ryukyu Prefectural University of Arts will bring craft works like pottery and woven fabrics. At the curry fest, the popular curries of resort hotels in the village are served. People can try free tasting and then eat authentic hotel curry just for one coin of ¥500. Admission is free for these events, which run 11 a.m. ~ 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.