Japanese traditional dance

Japanese traditional dance describes a number of Japanese dance styles with a long history and prescribed method of performance. Some of the oldest forms of traditional Japanese dance may be among those transmitted through the kagura tradition, or folk dances relating to food producing activities such as planting rice (dengaku) and fishing, including rain dances.^[1] There are large number of these traditional dances, which are often subfixed -odori, -asobi, and -mai, and may be specific to a region or village.^[1] Mai and odori are the two main groups of Japanese dances, and the term buyō (舞踊) was coined in modern times as a general term for dance, by combining mai (舞) (which can also be pronounced bu) and odori (踊) (which can also be pronounced yō).^[2]

Mai is a more reserved genre of dance that often has circling movements, and dances of the Noh theatre are of this tradition.^[2] A variation of the Mai style of Japanese dance is Kyomai, or Kyoto-style dance. Kyomai developed in the 17th century Tokugawa cultural period. It is heavily influenced by the elegance and sophistication of the manners often associated with the Imperial Court in Kyoto.^{[citation needed]} Odori has more vigorous stepping movements and is more energetic, and dances of the kabuki theatre belong to this category.^[2]

^ ^a ^b Frederic, Louis (6 May 2005). Japan Encyclopedia (new ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0674017535.
^ ^a ^b ^c Oshima, Mark (29 June 2009). Sandra Buckley (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture. Routledge. p. 75. ISBN 978-0415481526.

[frederic1-1] Frederic, Louis (6 May 2005). Japan Encyclopedia (new ed.). Harvard University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0674017535.

[oshima-2] Oshima, Mark (29 June 2009). Sandra Buckley (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture. Routledge. p. 75. ISBN 978-0415481526.

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