Latest news with #WorldDanceDay
The Mainichi
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Big traditional 'Awa Odori' dance event held at Osaka Expo
On May 2 and 3, there was a big traditional dance event at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Around 700 dancers performed the "Awa Odori" dance. About 10,000 people joined in for one big circle dance at the end. The Tokushima Prefecture government organized this event. They did this to celebrate "World Dance Day." The dancers were in nine groups. Each group showed their dance to the visitors. They danced beautifully with drums, Japanese flutes, and other instruments making special music called "Zomeki-bayashi." On the night of May 3, all dancers came together for the final dance at a place in the Expo called Expo Arena "Matsuri." This arena is outside, and 16,000 people can watch there. The dancers made a very big circle together with people from the audience. The circle looked like the Expo's well-known building, the "Grand Ring." About 10,000 people joined in this circle. Minoru Yamada, 71, from the Awa Odori Promotion Association, was one of the dancers. He also danced at another Expo in Osaka in 1970. He said, "Dance does not need words. It was great to see the circle become bigger and everyone dance together." (Japanese original by Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Tokushima Bureau) Vocabulary Expo: A big event where many countries show culture or technology. traditional: Old or special things from a country's culture. audience: People who watch a show or performance. instruments: Things we use to make music, like drums or flutes. circle: A round shape where people stand together.
The Mainichi
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
10,000 participants join biggest ever Awa Odori circle dance at World Expo in Osaka
OSAKA -- Some 700 dancers descended on Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai on May 2 and 3 for a traditional Awa Odori dance event hosted by western Japan's Tokushima Prefecture, with a huge circle dance on the final day drawing in some 10,000 participants. The Tokushima Prefectural Government, which is taking part in the Expo as a member of the Union of Kansai Governments, staged the event under the "World Dance Day" theme. The dancers, divided into nine groups, showcased their Awa Odori performances on stage in turns. Visitors were captivated by their dynamic and graceful moves synchronized to "Zomeki-bayashi" music played with Japanese flutes, drums and other instruments. During the finale on the night of May 3, all the dancers gathered at the Expo Arena "Matsuri," an outdoor venue which holds 16,000 people, to attempt the largest circle dance in history. As they expanded the circle by involving the audience, it ultimately formed a single large ring, symbolizing the Expo's iconic wooden structure, the "Grand Ring." According to the Tokushima Prefectural Government, the number of participants in the dance eventually grew to 10,000. Minoru Yamada, 71, from the Awa Odori Promotion Association, who also performed at the World Expo in Osaka back in 1970, reflected, "Dance needs no words. Watching it expand and become one big circle was amazing." (Japanese original by Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Tokushima Bureau)
India Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Dancing magic with the five elements
What happens when stars of the dance world meet and create magic? The world dances. As it happened this week at India Habitat Centre (IHC), Delhi. It was the only mega dance event on the actual date declared as the International Day for Dance by the United Nations—the others were all before or after, not on April excuse is good to dance and Delhi, being the capital city, had five events going around the occasion: Utsav Cultural Society was first from April 20, then Kiran Nadar Museum's Aditi Mangaldas show on the 24th, followed by Natyavriksha on 26th and 27th, and then Vaishali Kala Kendra's celebration of her guru Durgacharan Ranbir getting the Padmashri award this year, and finally India Habitat Centre's over-full and flowing World Dance Day, where the best of the culturatti couldn't get in if they were not early enough to catch a seat. Extra screens had to be put up in the basement halls when Stein, whose balcony rarely gets filled, was full within minutes of the gates Bangalore International Centre (BIC) in Bengaluru had Mrinal Prabhu presenting her flock and Gururaj dancing his Kuchipudi. Baroda, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Chandigarh, too, mounted their own events, as did the Chennai sabhas and Kerala makes a show draw thousands of people when classical dance shows generally struggle to get even a hundred or two into a hall? Content. Concept. Context. Research, recognition and reputation. The IHC consulted yours truly once again for content, as it has often done in the past. This is how Panchatatva was born. The five elements—air, water, earth, fire and ether—were represented collectively and also individually. For instance, air was embodied by an upcoming star of Kuchipudi, Washim Raja, whose Gajendra Moksha was most evocative and touching. He floats like air and flies! Shobana, the superstar of South, and recently Padma Bhushan-ed, represented Bharatanatyam and her Shankarabharam varnam was so finely etched that it took the viewer almost inside a South Indian temple complex. No starry tempers or demands, she came like anyone else, availed common facilities and even joined the group impromptu in the end doing Vande Mataram, as an ode to the civilians killed in Not just these two forms but all five—including Kathak by Anuj Neha Mishra of Lucknow who represented fire with their red costumes bringing Shiva and Shakti live, modern dance by Vishwakiran Nambi, who representing ether doing Yella Oottu on food, and earthen Odissi by Rahul Varshney showing Ashtashambhu—added to the occasion, with yours truly giving apt historical perspective laced with humour, culminating in an impromptu 'lungi dance' , when all the panchtatvas came together in Vande Mataram. The audience, too, joined in, such was the pull and energy of the magical evening, energised by the best Indian dance has to the audience were many gurus, stars, students and others from all age groups. There was also the entitled Delhi lot that could not get in the hall—coming fashionably late didn't help this once! Sandip Mullick's lights were superb. IHC engaged the best and pulled out all stops to help the grand event become grander. Those who missed it can catch the magic and relive it on IHC's dedicated social outreach channels, including on Rahul Sharma and Sonali Sharma conducted the proceedings with aplomb, which had the Unesco head for South Asia based in Delhi, Tim Curtis, release the mock cover of the silver jubilee edition of AttenDance on Indian dance in France guest. Edited by Sonya Wynne Singh based in Montpellier, France, the edition will be launched in Paris later by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Unesco and possibly the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with the Indian embassy. The World Dance Day, after all, is in honour of the French ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810).Aman Nath of the Neemrana group provided gravitas and class, while Delhi's much-loved guru Vanashree Rao lit the lamp with other panchbhutams. This was also the first event at IHC attended by its new director K.G. Suresh, who had just taken charge. It was providential because he is also the great grandson of veteran Kathakali guru vidwan Shankaran Namboodripad, who taught the dance form at the Uday Shankar Almora Studio in the 1940s. Vidyun Singh, the creative head of IHC and her A team comprising Shadaab, Naresh, Wasif and Sushma managed all the logistics days ahead and after. The World Dance Day was celebrated as a grand event by one institution in India, in a befitting manner that had a huge ripple effect with dancers from all over India already asking what's the chance they can dance next to India Today MagazineMust Watch
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dance revives heritage: Kolkata's Royal Insurance Building comes alive
On World Dance Day, the historic Royal Insurance Building in Kolkata became an extraordinary stage, hosting a performance that beautifully underscored the vital role of art in revitalizing and reconnecting us with our past. This unique event not only celebrated the dynamism of dance but also illuminated the untapped potential of the city's numerous heritage spaces. Kolkata has had enough of organized and formal theatre performances. Time has come to take this opportunity. There are large number of heritage spaces with performing places in Kolkata, unidentified, unrecognized, unnoticed and unsung places. If we can leverage this performance areas, suddenly what emerges is something that no other city has, which is in short- heritage, large, attractive and accessible spaces -Mudar Patherya This was conceptualized in a span of 7-10 days. this collaborative effort led by citizens and artists sought to breathe new life into our city's underappreciated architectural heritage. Dance needs spaces. Spaces need living bodies. This collaboration on International Dance Day was an attempt to send bodies back to spaces they belong to-reimagining and reframing architectural spaces through movement and rhythm. -Paramita Saha, director of Artsforward and curator of the event Caption: Young performers from the city came together to participate in this unusual symphony of space and movement. Asish Singha, Ekluvya Bera, Minami Nandy, Sankalita Charaborty, Sayan Das, Shayak Tarafder, Shreya Acharyya, Subhankar Mondal accompanied by Debjit Mahalanobis on the Double Bass.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Manju Warrier makes a mistake during dance practice, Netizens say 'That's the cutest mistake'
Manju Warrier, celebrated for her exceptional acting and graceful dance skills, once again reminded fans why she remains an icon of humility and passion. On the occasion of World Dance Day, the actress shared a candid video of her online Kuchipudi practice session with renowned dancer and teacher Geetha Padmakumar . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Still making mistakes and learning from them' In the video, Manju is seen attempting a dance move, only to falter momentarily. However, with a light-hearted expression and a mischievous smile directed at her teacher, she immediately corrects the step—capturing a moment that resonated with thousands of fans. She posted the clip with the caption: 'Still making mistakes and learning from them. The lovely voice: My sweetest bestest teacher.' The simplicity and honesty of the moment touched a chord with viewers, quickly racking up over 3 lakh views on Instagram. Thudarum - Official Teaser Manju Warrier's willingness to publicly embrace her learning process without chasing perfection has earned her praise from across the internet. Fans and fellow artists admired her childlike enthusiasm, humility, and her respect for her guru. Geetha Padmakumar also shared the same video on her social media, echoing the admiration and warmth shared by many. Netizens say - That's the cutest mistake Manju Warrier's post was soon flooded with comments fom fans. One comment read, 'That's the cutest mistake I've seen ....love you manju Chechi.' Another comment read, 'Even the mistakes were so graceful.' Actress Shivada commented with three loving emojis. One netizen commented, 'Sorry didn't notice the mistake Chechi you didn't give the opportunity to look at the mistake.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Another comment read, 'Thank you for this video, chechiizz @ .... It's a reminder of hard work and perseverance... The glow that comes after the sweat is glorious... Sending you hugs and love....' On the work front, Manju Warrier was last seen in the Mohanlal starrer 'L2: Empuraan'.
