It’s time for a dance party! Join Lanesboro Arts and Artist-in-Residency Alys Ayumi Ogura for a celebratory exploration of Japanese folk dance from 6 – 8 pm on Thursday, August 14th at Gateway Park.
Participants will start by learning some simple Japanese folk-dances, known as Bon Odori, and then all will celebrate with a Lanesboro version of the Obon Festival (a Japanese summer festival). There may even be some surprise special guests joining for this showcase! Folks can choose to either watch or participate in the dancing circle.
Yumi has invited Mia Oi of Ichigo Tokyo Crepes to join us! There will be free delicious Tokyo style Crepes available for free, first come first served. There will also be a variety of Japanese snacks and drinks for purchase. These treats will add to the festival vibe! Learn more about Oi’s culinary art Here and find her website Here.
We will also be joined by MinnesoDance! Founder Maria Traxler lived in Kochi, Japan and learned Yosakoi dance, a modern and hybrid version of traditional regional regional folk dance. Maria and her fellow dancer Amanda will teach folks Tokyo Ondo and demonstrate Yosakoi dances. MinnesoDance was founded in July 2020 and is a group of Yosakoi enthusiasts from Minnesota and other states. Their name is a pun on the long o’s of the Minnesotan accent, combined with the wish for everyone to dance together in sou odori, or group dances.
Obon is a blend of ancient Japanese beliefs about ancestral spirits and a Buddhist custom that honors the spirits of one’s ancestors. Bon Odori literally means “dances at Obon.”
In the event of rain, this event will take place at the St. Mane Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.
About Alys Ayumi Ogura
Alys Ayumi Ogura オグラ アリス ア有美 (she/her) is a Twin Cities-based dance artist and performance maker who centers on storytelling through her movements, voice, and quirky humor. She has created a platform called the “YumiVerse,” a.k.a. Yumi’s Universe to focus on the marginalized voices of Asian women like her. She created a work commissioned by the Pillsbury House + Theatre (2021) and one for the Red Eye Theater (2023). An iteration of the YumiVerse work was selected as a solo at the 2022 Walker Art Center’s Choreographers’ Evening. Ogura is thrilled to share the YumiVerse with other towns and cities, including Lanesboro during her residency. She is always searching for communities that are open to embracing the YumiVerse and a different perspective on the world—just as she does. Learn more about Yumi’s residency here.
Photograph Credit: Tommy Sar.
The Lanesboro Early Career Artist residency Program is Supported by the Jerome Foundation.
