Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

For immediate release

For more information:
Diane Tanaka
310-222-5709

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NISEI WEEK ANNUAL JAPANESE FESTIVAL ONDO STREET DANCING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES TO TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, AUGUST 20

(Los Angeles - July 17, 2006) - The 66th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival will hold its ondo street dancing and closing ceremonies on Sunday, August 20. The ceremonies will begin at 3:30 p.m. and in addition to the street dancing, it will feature taiko and Nisei Week's annual raffle winners will be drawn. Hideo Kikuchi is coordinating the Nisei Week Ondo and has been involved with the committee since 1975. Free ondo classes will take place every Tuesday and Thursday on July 18, 20, 25, 27 and August 1 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Japanese American Community & Cultural Center. Please bring sensu (fan) and uchiwa to practices.

The 2006 Nisei Week choreographer is Madame Fujima Kansuma, who has choreographed two dances, "Sho Tokyo Ondo" and "Wa ni natte Odoro," which she hopes everyone will enjoy and bring the joyful spirit of the Ondo to all who participate and watch.

Madame Fujima Kansuma founded the Fujima Kansuma Classical Japanese Dance School more than 65 years ago and is its artistic director. She has trained countless students in this traditional performing art, many of whom have become instructors themselves. As a young girl, Sumako Hamaguchi went to Japan to study dance under the great teachers of that time, Onoe Kikugoro VI and Fujima Kanjuro VI. There she was conferred the title Fujima Kansuma and earned her shihan, or teaching credential. After she returned to Los Angeles, she opened a studio in Little Tokyo and began teaching classical Japanese dance.

Her relationship with the ondo dance began when she was eight or nine years old and saw a group of people dancing on Central Avenue and First Street, in front of what is now the Japanese American National Museum. What struck her first was that there were many boys dancing. She always felt badly for her father because he did not have sons and now there was something she could do like the boys. She joined in and soon many of the spectators were cheering her on. As she reminisces on this experience, she believes that it wasn't her great dancing, but the spirit with which she danced that made the crowd cheer. She hopes the 66th Nisei Week Ondo will provide the same spirit and joy that she experienced so many years ago.

The Nisei Week Ondo is free to the public and consists of dancing Japanese folk dances danced on 1st Street in Little Tokyo. The street will be closed between San Pedro Street and Central Avenue. The general public is encouraged to join in the excitement and dancing, no prior experience required or necessary. Just follow the moves of the person in front - it's very simple and much fun.

For volunteer information or other information on the 66th Nisei Week Festival, please call the Nisei Week Festival office at 213/687-7193 or fax at 213/687-6510. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, Calif., 90012. Also visit the Nisei Week website at www.NiseiWeek.org for a complete calendar of events.