Misako Kamata, Paseo de Marianas Promoters Inc. president, yesterday said that they are encouraging young people to join.
“We need more young people to join our dance group,” Kamata said. Children six to 18 years old are welcome to join.
The Saipan Awaodori Team has about 60 members from the Koblerville Youth Center, as well as the Tanapag and Gualo Rai youth centers. The group performs at various events throughout the year like the annual Flame Tree Festival, Taste of the Marianas, Liberation Day, street market, Marianas March Against Cancer and other community events.
Awaodori is a Japanese traditional dance performed in many festivals in that Asian nation.
The local group also joins members of the Tokyo Tensuiren group who come to Saipan and perform for special occasions, and sends the team’s best performers each year to the Awaodori Festival in Konjie, Tokyo whenever funds allow them.
This year, the Saipan Awaodori team has no representation to Tokyo because of the tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan last March, but the team continues its regular practice.
For more information, visit Kinpachi Restaurant in Garapan, call 234-6900 or email [email protected].
