The Culture of Kyo Dance
”Kyomai” refers especially to the Inoue school dance, that has strong features relative to Kyoto out of all the Kamigata Dances of Japanese Dance, that emerged in the middle of Edo period. We have visited Yachiyo Inoue, the fifth Iemoto to the Inoue school. The Inoue school was founded by Sato Inoue, (the first Yachiyo Inoue) who was dance instructor to the Konoe family, with court culture as basis during the Kansei period. The well-known gorgeous dance, ”Miyako odori” performed by Gion maiko and geiko was choreographed and instructed by Yachiyo Inoue the 3rd. During this time, the Inoue school and other schools made agreement, that Inoue will not leave Gion and likewise for restricting other schools from entering Gion. Kyomai exhibits both graceful female postures and tension with strength. Inoue school does not show facial expression. Every expression is through the dance. There is reason for all the sensitive and concentrated moves. Nakata are taught some moves of Kyomai.
To Express Life
The basic movement is to ”keep down”. This would be the feminine posture, with spine erect and keeping bottom down, which proves to be extremely difficult to keep. Walking is the same, where the soles of the feet are always kept on the floor and sliding forward. This way of walking is the first thing that is practiced. Just practicing this basic movement uses a great amount of energy. By looking at his clumsy movements, Yachiyo Inoue says ”Come to learn the basics next time.” ”What I value the most is that our dance expresses life. This is my policy. Of course the dance has its basic forms, but you need to insert your feelings in the movements.” Expressing life, is something common to all art. From Inoue school’s kyomai, you can sense the strength and gracefulness. Once again, we are reminded that Japanese art has this much variety of color.
