Dancing queen

When I was little, my dad used to get my sister and I to go to ballet and tap dance class by bribing us with ice cream. Every Wednesday, he'd take us to Stump's Pumps for a sugar cone after practice. To be honest, I would have gone to dance anyway, it was my sister who needed a little persuasion.

Still, I am thankful that my dad pushed us to do stuff like that. And I still really love to dance. So yesterday night I went to a contemporary/jazz dance class a friend of mine has been promoting. I used to be a bit skeptical of contemporary dance. It just seemed like a lot of flailing around to me. I've come to have a newfound respect for it now that I see it more on TV. They do some really amazing and compelling things in this style.

Anyway, the class was really fun. It was nice to do something different and learn something new. And it's not a bad workout.

Lesson learned: I can still do a pas de bouree. Thanks dad.

Boys will be girls

The hot springs resort where we're staying holds dance theater every afternoon and evening. After dinner last night, we headed there to check it out. It was basically a collection of dances. About five different performers danced to Japanese music dressed traditionally and with painted faces.

It was a fascinating style. Each dancer made calculated movements, their feet flexed at sharp angles or head tilted to the side. We noticed after the first dance that the man and woman who were dancing were in fact two men. After Aimee pointed it out, it was obvious that she was a he, but it was a shock that a man could move so gracefully with such demur facial expressions. He had very delicate hands and neck as well. One of the most captivating things about him was his eyes. We would look at various audience members at certain times, and his facial expression would gradually grow more intense and turn into a sort of devious smile.

Later we found out that all the dancers, save one, were under the age of 20.


The leader of the clan came out to sing a song, and noticed us "foreigners" in the audience, saying something else that made the audience laugh but that Hiroshi wouldn't translate. That seems to happen from time to time and is a bit unnearving. After the show, he beckoned us on stage for photos.

Lesson learned: Even among people in costume, we seem to be conspicuous.