UNESCO-listed Okinawan art form to be performed
HCM CITY – Kumi odori – a form of narrative traditional Ryukyuan dance which originates from Okinawa, Japan will be staged in HCM City on Sunday by artists from the Ship of the Ryukyu troupe.
Literally meaning “combination dance” or “ensemble dance”, the art form dates back to 1719 and was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
The dance has also been recognised by the Japanese government as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.
Besides the kumi odori, artists from the Ship of the Ryukyu will also present other Okinawan art forms, including Eisa ritual drum performances and a unicorn dance.
Ship of the Ryukyu is a collective of singers and dancers led by young directors from Okinawa. The group was formed with an aim to develop world-wide interest in Okinawa’s vast heritage and introduce people to the region’s rich culture.
The free-of-charge performance will take place at the Ben Thanh Theatre, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, HCM City.
Another cultural activity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relation between Viet Nam and Japan will be the display of 23 selected Vietnamese antique items in the Kyushu National Museum in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Focused on the theme Viet Nam – A Great Story, the display will present the ancient objects of the Sa Huynh Civilisation (BC1,000-AD100) that were collected in the ancient town of Hoi An.
The ancient people of the Sa Huynh Civilisation are believed to have been the first owners of the Hoi An trading port, which had trading relationships with merchants from Japan and many other countries.
The display will be open to the Japanese public from April 16 – June 9. – VNS