<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Greetings, </DIV>
<DIV>Some of you folk interested in cultural dances may want to check out this performance</DIV>
<DIV>of Japanese dance. And it's free! </DIV>
<DIV>For details, check out the link: </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.mfah.org/calendar.asp?eid=20961&par1=2&par2=2&par3=1&par4=1&par5=&par6=&par7">http://www.mfah.org/calendar.asp?eid=20961&par1=2&par2=2&par3=1&par4=1&par5=&par6=&par7</A>=</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Cheers, Hillary</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<DIV>An Evening of ´Nihon Buyo´ Dances from Japan <BR>This program is generously co-sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan at Houston. <BR><BR>Tuesday, August 3, 2010 <BR>6:30 p.m. <BR>The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston <BR>Brown Auditorium Theater <BR><BR>Free and open to the public <BR>A reception to meet the performers follows the talk <BR><BR>Nihon Buyo, which literally means ´Japanese dance,´ draws its unique blend of <BR>styles from Kabuki theater, Noh dramas, and folk dance traditions. Different <BR>from other dance styles which are more associated with daily life, Nihon Buyo <BR>was always intended to be stage entertainment. <BR><BR>Two primary forms of movement characterize Nihon Buyo: the exaggerated, vivid <BR>rhythms of odori derived from the boisterous style of Kabuki theater, and the <BR>more introspective, circular movements of mai that find their inspiration in <BR>traditional Noh dramas. <BR><BR>At this special Houston
presentation, Erika Wakayagi and her troupe will perform <BR>five Nihon Buyo selections that have long been favorites among Japanese <BR>audiences. The Wakayagi School in Kyoto is one of the five renowned schools of <BR>Nihon Buyo. The Wakayagi style focuses on delicate posturing and elegant <BR>movements. <BR><BR>Erika Wakayagi began her dance training at the age of 3, and was awarded the <BR>honorable title Master of Nihon Buyo of the Wakayagi School when she was only 17 <BR>years old.<BR><BR></DIV></div></body></html>