The History of the Parasol Dance

Parasol dancing is a form of Japanese dance.

Dance boasts a long-standing history in Japanese culture. Its roots extend deep into Shintoism, but it branches out into several different forms. Parasol dancing is one form of Japanese dance, which has a historical place within the geisha scene as well as certain types of Japanese theatre.

The Dance

The parasol moves around as the dance continues.

The dance involves a Japanese parasol, and dancers wear brightly colored kimonos and wooden shoes. Girls move around in shuffling steps to a Mikado song (one in 4/4 time). Counting during the dance is generally done in twos for one measure and in four for two measures. A parasol dancer may dance alone or in a group of four. The dance starts with the parasol opened and held over the head, with the dancer's hands at chest level. As the dance progresses, the parasol is moved about.

Mythology of Japanese Dance

Japanese dance has deep roots in mythology.

Japanese dance in general has its roots in Shintoism. The first Japanese dance was connected to the legend of Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess who is said to be the ancestor of the Imperial family. Amaterasu's brother, Susanoo, destroyed her garden. In despair, Amaterasu locked herself in a cave, casting a cold darkness over the entire world. Finally, Amenouzume no Mikoto, the goddess of the dawn, decided to performed a dance in front of the rock cave where Amaterasu hid. The dance was so preposterous that the other deities could not stop laughing, thus drawing Amaterasu out by her curiosity.

The Geisha

Historically, geisha used parasols and fans as they entertained.

Historians often attribute the parasol dance to early Japanese female entertainers, or geisha. The term "geisha" is often misused in Western culture. Female geisha originally worked in Japanese "pleasure quarters," but their role was notably different from that of the prostitutes who worked in the same quarter. The geisha were not primarily meant to fulfill physical desires. Instead, they were performing artists, whose appeal existed through their art form. Many geisha performed the parasol dance as a sensual act for wealthy men.

Noh Theatre

Noh theatre often involves the use of masks.

Noh, or nogaku drama, is one of the oldest forms of Japanese theatre. Traditional plays present old stories about the supernatural or the everyday world, and may either be drama-based or dance-based. Dance plays, or furyu no, focus on aesthetics over plot advancement. Although these dance plays do not usually involve parasol dancing, they have a connection to another branch of Japanese theatre: kabuki.

Kabuki Theatre

While noh theatre generally involved an all-male cast, kabuki theatre originally started as a female form of entertainment. Female entertainers would act as both male and female characters in plays concerning everyday life. Kabuki plays were more similar to the dance plays of noh theatre than the drama plays, as dancing was a prime aspect of the first female kabuki shows; but these plays also incorporated an entirely new style of dance.

The original plays, dating back to the 1600s, were often seen as too erotic and sensual, and many of the women involved had connections to prostitution. Eventually, women were banned altogether from kabuki theatre for several centuries. Female roles still expressed some form of sensuality, however, even drawing some inspiration from the movements of female geisha. This is likely when kabuki theatre first introduced parasol dancing into its plays and performances.

References

• Adzuma: History of Japanese Dance
• Cal Poly CLA: Amaterasu Omikami
• Kabuki 21: All About Japan's Traditional Theatre Art of Kabuki