Walk the Walk

It's true! Awa Odori is a group dance, so participation is what it's all about. It doesn't matter if you don't really know what you're doing. Just chuck on your tabi and yukata and get amongst it!

If you're like me, though, once you've got a taste for "the fool's dance", you'll want to learn more, understand it and come back again to dance your socks off. Or maybe you'd just like to appreciate the method in this madness. Well, you've come to the right place! For a very basic lesson in Awa Odori, read on!

Some people get really annoyed by the music of Awa Odori. They hear it all summer as groups practice in local parks for the coming festival. It's loud and it goes on for ages - after all, it takes a while to dance down the length of a street. And except for the tempo, it doesn't seem to vary much.

Its simplicity is, however, its beauty, at least if you're dancing. You can always count on the rhythm staying the same. If you listen for the ring of the kane bell, you'll always be able to pick up the beat...

There are two basic versions of Awa Odori - the male style, otoko odori, and the female style, onna odori. The picture below epitomises the difference between the two. Essentially, onna odori is UP and otoko odori is DOWN.

Now, being a man, all I'm really qualified to talk about is otoko odori. There are plenty of girls who dance otoko odori, too, but there are no men that I know of dancing onna odori. If you want to learn that properly, you're going to have to ask a girl. :) But starting with otoko odori is a good foundation for all the rest.

Stand up. Try to relax. It's easier to dance fluidly if your muscles aren't tight.

Now, see the handsome guy in the picture? Do what he does and you'll be right. When you're actually practicing, it'll help to dance in front of a mirror. This is true for beginners and advanced dancers alike. And of course, there's nothing better than going and joining in with a proper ren, but you've got to be in Japan, preferably in Tokushima-ken, for that. For now you'll have to make do with the handsome guy. :)

Let's start with the legs.

1.     Your feet should start about shoulder width apart. Relaxed stance.

2.     Turn your feet slightly out, to as much as maybe 45 degrees.

3.     As you turn your feet out, bend your knees, too, and feel free to sink into your stance as far as you like. The lower the better.

4.     Your weight should be centred in your hips. Your knees should be wider apart then your feet and pointing to either side. Feel strange? Don't worry! You'll get used to it!

Your back should be straight and your head up, too. Think about it as if you're carrying a child on your back - if you hunch they'll slip off!

** INSERT picture - basic stance

You've got the basic stance. Now for the movement.

5.     Everything is done in a 1,2 rhythm.

6.     Awa Odori usually starts on the right.

7.     From your basic stance, lift your right knee, extend your foot slightly in front of the knee, and bring it down to tap the ground about 30cm away, in front of you and to the right. Your leg should simply have extended straight out in the direction it was pointing. Then lightly drag your foot back to where it started. This motion is circular, much like riding a bicycle.

** INSERT three pictures for right leg

8.     While you move your right leg, your balance is taken by your left leg. If your body above your hips is moving much, you're off balance!

9.     Do the same with your left leg. Again, your balance should be taken by your right leg.

** INSERT three pictures for left leg

10.     Repeat this. Many times.

11.     The rhythm? Tap on 1. Drag on 2. From your basic stance, like this...

Extend right
>>>>>>>
TAP          1

Drag it back
>>>>>>>
STOP          2

Extend left
>>>>>>>
TAP          1

Drag it back
>>>>>>>
STOP          2

**INSERT four pictures 1,2,1,2

And so on. 1,2.. 1,2.. 1,2.. 1,2.. You've got it. :)

1.     Don't stand in Awa Odori stance yet. Just stand normally. Raise both arms straight up above your head.

2.     Palms should be facing forwards. ** INSERT picture starting position

3.     Everything is done in a 1,2 rhythm.

4.     Awa Odori usually starts on the right.

5.     Keeping your left hand above your head, push your right hand down and out until it's level with your shoulder. Don't bend your arm much on the way down. Your arms should together form an "L". ** INSERT picture right L

6.     Bring your right hand back up the same way you pushed it down. Now you're back where you started. ** INSERT picture starting

7.     Do the same thing with your left hand, leaving your right hand above your head. Again, it looks like an "L", just the other way around. And then back to your starting position. ** INSERT picture left L

8.     Repeat this. Over and over.

9.     The rhythm? Out on 1. Up on 2. From your starting position, like this...

Push right
>>>>>>>
"L" to right          1

Raise right
>>>>>>>
Starting position          2

Push left
>>>>>>>
"L" to left          1

Raise left
>>>>>>>
Starting position          2

** INSERT four pictures 1,2,1,2

And so on. In case you've forgotten... 1,2.. 1,2.. 1,2.. 1,2.. No worries. :)

When we walk or run, as one leg swings forward, the arm on the same side swings back to keep us balanced. Awa Odori, however, isn't so intuitive. As your right leg goes out, so does your right hand. Balance isn't created by counter-movement, but by keeping a strong centre of gravity. It takes a bit of practice. Good luck! :)

1.     Turn your feet out, bend your knees, settle into the Awa Odori stance.

2.     Keeping your stance, raise both arms straight up above your head.

3.     To keep your balance, it may help to bend forward a little at the hips, but keep your back straight. ** INSERT full starting pose

4.     Everything is done in a 1,2 rhythm.

5.     Awa Odori usually starts on the right.

6.     As you extend your right leg and tap your right foot on the first beat, push your right hand out in the same direction as your foot. You should form an "L" with your arms at the same time as your foot touches the ground.

7.     As you drag your right foot back to the basic stance on the second beat, raise your right hand back to the starting position.

8.     Now do the same for your left foot and hand.

9.     Repeat this many times. Try to keep a constant rhythm.

** INSERT four pictures 1,2,1,2

Look at that. You're dancing Awa Odori. It's that easy. :)

So you're getting a hang of the rhythm and a feel for moving the hand and leg on one side at the same time. Now it's time to relax a bit. To dance more naturally. To put the fool in your form. :)

Check out this series of photos. Things to note:

>>     low stance, legs always bent, but with a straight back
>>     soft wrists, to allow the hands to rock with the movement
>>     slightly bent arms, moving circularly, not just straight up and down

** INSERT four to six photos of motion

In otoko odori, the idea is to be fluid and a little random. You can do lots of practice to help you get used to the movement, but the most important factor in looking good while you dance Awa Odori has nothing to do with technique. It has everything to do with enjoying yourself. Get out there and have some fun!

So far you've just been dancing on the spot, right? But didn't I say something about Awa Odori being a big street dancing festival? It's time to start moving around.

1.     Start dancing on the spot, as you've already been practicing.

2.     When you're ready, instead of just extending your leg, tapping your foot, and dragging back to where you started, you're going to...

3.     Extend your right leg and tap your right foot on the first beat, push your right hand out in the same direction as your foot. You should form an "L" with your arms at the same time as your foot touches the ground. THIS IS THE SAME.

4.     Drag your right foot back so that it finishes planted in line with the centre of your body, still pointing out to the right, and IN FRONT of your left foot. It's like you've crossed your legs just slightly. You've just taken a step forward. ** INSERT front and side views

5.     Shift your weight to your right foot and then repeat the above steps with your left leg and foot. You should finish this with your left leg crossed just in front of your right leg. You've just taken another step forward. ** INSERT front and side views

6.     Do this about 500 times and you'll get from one end of the street to the other. No worries. :)

So you've got the moves, but do you have style? As with most things in life, the more you learn about Awa Odori, the more you realise there is to learn. There are as many different styles as there are people dancing Awa Odori, but the guys who look really cool often do many of the same things. So here's a few tips to help you look kakkoii with the best of them.

1.     1,2.. 1,2.. it's always the same.. 1,2..

2.     Bend your knees - the lower the better!

3.     Stick it out - your bum and your chest, that is. It promotes good form!

4.     Keep your head up - people who don't know what they're doing look at their feet!

5.     Point your toes - you'll look lighter on your feet if you bring your foot down toe first and drag back on the ball of the foot.

6.     Look where your body is going - helps to emphasise the motion.

7.     The rhythm in your wrists - the music is always 1,2.. 1,2.., and letting your hands rock back and forth to this rhythm will help you to look fluid.

8.     From the heart - the movement of your arms should start in the heart and end up floating off the tips of your fingers. That's what my renchou said, anyway. It was one of my first lessons in Awa Odori - possibly the most valuable.

And most importantly...

9.     Smile. Enjoy it. That's why we dance. :)

What, you want to learn more? Good for you! Once you've got the basic odori covered, you can start to practice dancing with an uchiwa or two, or perhaps a sai, or even with a chouchin. Of course, this is another level of difficulty that requires hands-on instruction. You'll have to join a ren to get the full Awa Odori experience! Luckily, there's plenty to choose from. If moving to Tokushima isn't on your agenda, you can keep an eye out for a touring ren - rare, but not unknown. And there are videos, too - but you might have to order them from a Japanese website! :)

Enough typing already. Get out there and dance! Good luck!