JPA Big Three Bon Odori on Governors Island 2019

In every town in Japan,  Bon Odori Festival is held in August. Let’s have one in New York!  A special one!
JPA is bringing Japan’s Big Three Bon Odori from Akita, Gifu and Tokushima Prefectures.
This will be the first Japanese Festival on Governors Island!

8月は日本の各地で盆踊りが催されます。JPAはこの夏、NYで日本三大盆踊りを開催致します。場所はマンハッタンからフェリーで８分の島、ガバナーズアイランドです。ご興味のある方は是非お越し下さい！

JPA Bon Odori Festival starts with three Bon Odori dance performances at Outlook Hill from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, August 30th.

Next day on Saturday August 31st, the festival starts at 12:00 pm with Japanese food vendors at Nolan Park. Then we will have on more performance at Outlook Hill from 7:30 pm.

Big Three Bon Odori are Nishimonai Bon Odori, Gujo Odori, and Awa Odori. Among Big Three Bon Odori, Nishimonai Bon Odori and Awa Odori are conventionally only for trained dance performers and the general public only watch the performances at the local festivals in japan. But at Nolan Park we will teach you how to dance all three dances, so you can experience the 400 to 700 years of Japanese heritages!

8月30日（金）アウトルックヒルにて午後7時半から9時まで日本三大盆踊りのパフォーマンスを開催します。　

翌日8月3１日（土）は、午後12時から8時まで、ノーランパークにて、日本食の屋台とゲームなどの遊びを含め盆踊りのフェスティバルを行います。夜は再度アウトルック ヒルにて午後7時半から9時までパフォーマンスを行います。

日本三大盆踊りは、秋田の西馬音内盆踊り、岐阜の郡上踊り、徳島の阿波踊りです。三大盆踊りの中で、西馬音内踊りと阿波踊りは一般に見ていただく踊りですが、ノーランパークでは踊りを学び、踊って頂けます。　400年から700年の歴史ある伝統をお楽しみください。

Ryo Shiba

Ryo Shiba is an attorney by day, a dancer, singer, novelist, and podcaster by night. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and came to the United States after college. Ryo joined JPA in 2015, and has been an important member of JPA’s Iwami Kagura troupe ever since.

Seika Takeuchi

Seika Takeuchi is from Japan. She has trained for ten years in various types of dance. Since coming to New York City to study at Borough of Brooklyn College as a Theatre major, some of her acting credits include Measure for Measure (Tribeca Performing Arts Center), Marco Millions (The Brick), and stage reading of Mutually Exclusive in The Brick Theater.

Miyu Yokota

Miyu Yokota is originally from Tokyo, Japan and pursuing her dream as a performer. Her major works in theatre include Water By the Spoonful (Orangutan, Kaye Playhouse), The Arsonist (Anna, Tribeca Performing Art Center), Antigone (The Baker Theatre Library), and American Rhapsody (Manhattan Concert Production Choir, Carnegie Hall). She hosted The Rough and Tumble Cabaret Show several times and accomplished her dream to become a stand-up comedian. She is graduating from Hunter College with a BA in Theatre Arts in December 2019.

Rina Maejima

Rina is a classical music trained performer, proud Japanese native from Tokyo. She graduated from AMDA with a professional training in Musical Theater, also has a BA in Classical Voice from Tokyo University of the Arts. Recent credits include the Connie Wang in A Chorus Line, Miranda in The Tempest, Lori/Woman in Romantic Fools, Hannah/Sadie in Oy!. Joined Caston-Clark Productions NYC Choreographer’s Forum as a tap dancer. As a singer she performed in Opera Gala concert at Carnegie Hall, and joined the production cast on the Viking Ocean Cruise Line. Special skills; Kick Boxing, owning traditional kimono, and Japanese Tea Ceremony practitioner.

Mai Nishioka

Born in Kochi, Japan, Mai is New York based Musical actress, Singer and Dancer. She graduated from Showa University of Music’s School of Musical Theater. Then she became a professional dancer of Tokyo Disney Land.
Credits include Miss Saigon (GIGI), A Chorus Line (Connie),  FAME (Carmen), Sound of Music (Brigitta), Jesus Christ Superstar (Chorus), The gift of the Magi (Ensemble)