阿波踊り (BEFORE THE DANCE)
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The Dancer of Awa Odori
AWA ODORI may have been the so called elegant dances performed by Gaisha from Kyoto to entertain the upper class samurais'
It is clear that the dance has been around for more than 400 years. With both arms in the air, steps follow the rhythm of the music. The ensemble consists of shamisen (a musical instrument similar to a guitar), drums, wooden flutes and gongs. Although there are no set moves to awa odori, dances by famous ren groups are very graceful.
The song associated with Awa Odori is called Awa Yoshikono and is a localised version of the Edo period popular song Yoshikono Bushi.
Listen to the music of AWA ODORI (The Dance of the Fools)
(Watch how they dance the AWA ODORI_YouTube)
踊る阿呆に (Odoru ahou ni)
The dancers are fools
見る阿呆 (Miru ahou)
The watchers are fools
同じ阿呆なら (Onaji ahou nara)
Both are fools alike so
踊らな損、損 (Odorana son, son)
Why not dance?
The dancers also chant hayashi kotoba call and response patterns such as "Yattosa, yattosa", "Hayaccha yaccha" and "Erai yaccha, erai yaccha", "Yoi, yoi, yoi, yoi". These calls have no semantic meaning, but help to encourage the dancers.