Saipan Awaodori dancers show off moves at 5th Awaodori Festival

 Community members were treated to a night of street dancing as PDM Promoters hosted anew the Annual Saipan Awaodori Festival last April 19.

Members of the Saipan Awaodori Team performed alongside 12 dancers and musicians of the Tokyo Tensui-ren and representatives from Benkei-ren and Aoi Shin-ren groups, which flew in from Japan especially for the festival.

The three visiting groups are among the most famous groups that participate in the annual Koenji Tokyo Awaodori Festival, which takes place in the last week of August.

Japan’s Awaodori festivals are celebrated with thousands of dancers performing the Awa dance to upbeat music and parade along the streets.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Saipan Awaodori Festival, which is home based at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan to coincide with the Street Market every Thursday.

With the temporary relocation of the street market to Garapan Fishing Base, however, the dancers performed in several locations in Garapan: the Fiesta Resort & Spa lobby entrance, right outside Power 99 radio station at Paseo de Marianas, DFS Galleria entrance fronting ABC Store, and concluded their performance at the Street Market where hundreds awaited their Awaodori presentation.

Marianas Visitors Authority’s Judy Torres presented at the Thursday Street Market a certificate of appreciation to the Tokyo Tensui-ren recognizing its support and promotion of the CNMI as a preferred travel destination.

Noriko Machi, a drummer for the Tokyo Tensui-ren, said in an interview that this is her second year to participate in the Saipan Awaodori Festival and described the children’s performance as impressive.

“They are so great. I feel like they enjoyed. I feel that, that’s why I’m so impressed,” she said.

Machi, who performed with the Saipan Awaodori dancers from Saipan during the 54th Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Dance Festival last August 28 to 29, 2010, noted the improvement among the young dancers.

“If they love Awaodori, they can learn and improve,” Machi told Saipan Tribune.

PDM Promoters director Misako Kamata agreed with Machi on the progress the Saipan Awaodori Team members have made in their craft.

“I think all the kids showed very, very good performance. Each year, there is improvement. Members from Japan are really happy. For the new members, I think they’re still shy but if you wait a few more months, they will be very proud dancing Awaodori,” said Kamata.

The Saipan Awaodori Team also performed at the opening night of the 31st Annual Flame Tree Festival last Friday. They are scheduled to perform at the Taste of Marianas on May 5 and the July 4 festivities.

Machi said it’s possible for them to come back to once again participate in the festival. Her advice to new Saipan Awaodori dancers? “Practice is an important thing but the most important is to enjoy dancing,” Machi said.