Japanese dance introduced in Ghana

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - The Japanese Community in Ghana with the help of the Ghana National Dance Company has introduced a free style street Japanese dance called "Yosakoi" aimed at blending Ghanaian and Japanese culture.

The introduction of the dance, which is also expected to deepen friendship between Ghana and Japan, would introduce a twist where Ghanaian dancers would select their own music, be it traditional or hip life, to create their own style of Yasakoi.

The Yasakoi dance, a traditional folk dance performed in Japan during the summer, uses a special Japanese musical instrument called castanets, or Naruko.

The Castanet musical instrument could be borrowed from the Japanese Embassy for performance.

Children from various private schools in Ghana would compete with the dance and judgment would be based on the creative use of the instrument, music and quality of dance.

Ms Grace Djabatey, Ghanaian coordinator, said the Yasakoi dance competition would be held on November 11, 2006 at the Children's Park. She said the dance was introduced five years ago by Mrs. Kazuko Asai, immediate past Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, when she realized that Ghanaians loved dance and music.