[ JAPANESE DANCE ]
A member of the Onoe Kikunobu Dance Company rehearses a traditional Japanese dance piece.
Onoe Kikunobu showcases artistry
of traditional Japanese dance at UH
David Furumoto calls her "the secret weapon of the department's Kabuki performances." The local-born stage actor who made his reputation as part of the University of Hawaii's classical Japanese theater productions over the years is talking about Gertrude Tsutsumi. Known better by her professional name of Onoe Kikunobu, Furumoto said he first got together with her in 1975 when he wanted to improve his dance technique in conjunction for his love of Kabuki.
"She was the choreographer for 'The Scarlet Princess of Edo,' " he said Monday night at Kennedy Theatre. It was the first night of on-stage rehearsals for Kikunobu's company's 13th dance concert at UH, which will be held over the weekend.
Onoe Kikunobu Dance Company and guests
Where: Kennedy Theatre, University of Hawaii at ManoaWhen: 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, and 2 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $25 general; $20 students, seniors, military and UH faculty and staff; $10 UH students
Call: 956-7655
Also: 7:30 p.m. July 1 at the Castle Theatre of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets $10, $20 and $25. Call 808-242-7469.
Furumoto, who now resides and teaches in Wisconsin, said he has missed only one of the previous concerts over the years. Besides his and the company's participation, Kikunobu always includes guest performers (one year a hula halau was part of the program).
This year, the guest list includes artisans from Japan: Onoe Kikushiro, master dancer, choreographer and direct assistant to Onoe Kikunojo II, headmaster of the Onoe School of Dance (where Kikunobu herself got her initial training); two master make-up and stage assistant specialists; two master shamisen artists that will join a couple of local players on stage; and two master nagauta vocalists.
Onoe Kikunobu, right, rehearses for an upcoming concert at Kennedy Theater.
Kikushiro will do a special solo piece to a piece by Bach played by local cellist Karen Fujimoto. Dale Senaga of the Royal Hawaiian Band will round out the live music on keyboard.
Furumoto will also be doing a solo dance, "Tama Usagi (Rabbit in the Moon)."
"This weekend's concert is particularly exciting to me," he said, "because it'll be the closest a local audience will see to an authentic Kabuki performance. People can sit back and enjoy the characterizations of the dancers, and watch real pros at work."
The stage presentation will also include authentic costumes and specially-fitted hair pieces flown in from the Kobayashi costume company in Kyoto.
Furumoto added that "Sensei (Kikunobu) is very demanding of her students to put on their best performance."
While much of the concert will feature either solo or duet numbers, Kikunobu's entire company -- ranging in experience from 7 to 45 years total spent with her -- will be showcased on the finale choreographed by Kikunobu entitled "Nagare (Water Images)." The second part of the dance is especially arresting visually as, during Monday's rehearsal, the dancers wave white sarashi, made of a silk organza weave, that become luminescent as they flutter under the stage lighting.
The isle company, celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, has also recently performed at the Pan-Pacific Festival in Waikiki, plus has done the Pearl City Utumatsuri and the regular Family Sunday event at Bishop Museum.
"This bunch of dancers with her now is very dedicated to Sensei," Furumoto said. "People like Shirley Miyamoto and Howard Asao have been with her for so long but, overall, the dancers tend to stick with her for the long haul.
"Plus she's very good at explaining to her dancers the reasons why they move the way they do. That attention to detail is also found in her excellent program notes, as she explains the history of classical Japanese dance," or Nihon Buyo.
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