The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30
The Cherry Blossom Dance.
Interesting Description Of the
Japanese Spring Festival.

- i)SdSoo LIZ = - W.
Special Correspondence Of The Daily
Kobe, Japan, May l-Once o
year during the month Of April, Jspa.
nese residents and visitors have the
opportunity of witnessing the pret
test of japanese dances. viz the
Cherry Blossom dance. 1t is 80 called
by toreig-~,s because it is always
given - the cherry blossom
season, d also because these flowers
are introduced in one of the dances.
The Japanese name for it, however,
is Miyakoodori or Capital dance,
indicating thereby that they too
think it is the finest dance Unlike
other dances this one is held IN
theatre and controlled and managed
by priests of the temple for the
benefit of the temple. The instruc-
tors in the dance are retired geisha,
old women no longer fit for service
who can earn their living by training
children to dance and sing
Like in the old English theatres
the choice eeats are in the balcony
for which the price of admission is
40 sen, whlls: down in the pit
amongst the masses it is Only 20 sen
In order to see both from near aud
afa. tried both places sitting on the
floor amongst the Japs in a position
corresponding to our orchestra first
row font. There are no seats ou the
main floor and no place wasted for
aisles. Simply one large floor inclin,
ing slightly covered with red blankets
spread thereon. In the balcony
benches are provided for foreigners
Ga approaching the theatre site
one is reminded of going to circus
on account Of the numerous stands
with sweets, &c, thereon in place Of
peanuts, the side elbows adjoining
and the many coored lanterns and
torches
There the similarity Ceases for
upon alighting from your rickisha
you are invited to remove your shoes
and have them checked same as
you would check your Goa: or
umbrella at home. This you
must do unless you can secure pair
of cloth slippers to tie over your
shoes and so avoid soiling o. scratch
ing the polished floor
The dancing commences at six
O'Clock aud takes about 40 minutes
being repeated every hour till mid
night. For footligbts large tallow
candles are used, which man comes
around and trims between each
dance.
Ooe thing peculiar about Japanese
dances and theatres is that you are
supposed to see only the dancers or
actors and are not supposed to see
the attendants, supers or assistants
who walk about on the stage al
liberty during the performance. and
shift the scenery, trim candles. sc
The orchestra, we may csll it, con-
sists of ten samisen and the same
number of miko (similar to drum
The samisen girls are on one side Of
the theatre on raised platform
whilst the miko girls are opposite,
similarly placed
The dancing girls, 32 in number
usually, though improperly called,
geisha, make ;neir entrance from the
rear OF the hall, pass alobg the ple!-
form in front of the samisen players,
on to the stage All movements are
inunisop, whist from beginning to
end the faces are devoid of expires
sion
1t is to the scenery that the atten
ton of q foreigner is mostly attract
ed for in comparison this is far ahead
of the other things connected with
the theatre and considering the crude
methods employed, it is worthy of the
most favorable comment
The opening dance after tae en-
trance is given in front OF tbs ecreeps
which. arranged in line across the
stage. serve as a drop curtain Tae
girls .bcn exit to the side Of the
stage proper .and not where they
made their entrance.
Upon a signal all the screens ars
drawn up, disclosing the interior OF a
tea house with sixteen Of the girls
therein These cone 6own upon the
stage floor by pair oi stairs and
give dance that is different from the
first though to our unedacated eye It
is but continuation OF it
AS soon as the gelsha come down
toe stairs the attendants whom as
said before, we are not supposed 20
see, come on and slide the flooring
and walls OF the house iuto the wings
- nraDarn Cor tho Doxt onopo