Japan has the Biggest Flamenco Following Outside Spain

Japan now has the largest flamenco following outside Spain with approximately 80,000 people studying this Spanish dance at about 600 schools.

As any flamenco enthusiast will tell you, there is much more to flamenco than red roses clenched between teeth and clicking castanets. Flamenco isn’t just a dance, it is a combination of body movement, music, passion and song; a centuries-old art form that can trace its roots back to the lower echelons of Andalucian society and which has since found a special place in the heart’s of many Japanese since it made its first appearance here in the late 1920s.

At ISHII Tomoko’s studio in Ginza (Tokyo), the majority of students are women in their 20s and 30s, although there are also children and some women over 50. Exactly what attracts them to an art form from a culture so different to their own is difficult to say – for some it is flamenco’s intensity and passion, for others it is the glamorous image.

The Essence of Flamenco
“The whole point of flamenco is that it is a dance that unifies guitars, song and dance,” says Ishii. “The essence of flamencos is that dancers directly express their inner emotions – in a way that is different from role-playing.” To become a good dancer you need good technique, but to become a great dancer takes something else according to Ishii, who has performed alongside top Spanish dancers like Antonio El Pipa and in numerous productions by legendary Japanese dancer KOMATSUBARA Yoko. “Great performers balance spirit and technique,” she says. “I think it is difficult to attract an audience using technique alone.”

As a performer, Ishii explains that what drives her is a desire “to continue giving performances which move audiences by expressing the moment and myself through flamenco.” She is no different to other flamenco performers who strive to go beyond mere technique and share their emotions with their audiences. It is the energy that comes from this that makes flamenco stand out from other dance forms.

Anyone interested in taking up flamenco dancing and following in the footsteps of dancers such as Komatsubara will be happy to hear that all you need to get started is plenty of enthusiasm, a good teacher and some basic equipment. “First, you have to get special shoes for Flamenco and depending on the dance studio, you might need a pair of castanets,” says Ishii, who adds that both shoes and castanets can be purchased quite easily at specialized dance shops or in many cases directly through dance schools. With tuition generally no more expensive than studying a second language, flamenco isn’t just expressive and exciting, it is relatively inexpensive.

ISHII Tomoko's Flamenco Studio
tomokoishii.com
Tel: 03-3889-7211

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