you should’a seen the stage..

Yesterday was a contemplative, almost-non usual Sunday. However, today I wish to regale you with, firstly, a brief and comprehensive post (is that supposed to be funny, you ask? Listen, I try to keep my writing curt…)-and then a more regular Monday one.

But I’ve just gotta tell ya what yesterday was like.

In the morning, yesterday, my alarm bit into my sleep at seven just like it does during the week. I got up and ready, showered and twirled myself into some clothes and then nervously made my way to the bus stations just a pop over from my house. I’m not really used to the buses here yet you see..

I was preparing to ride the local bus, two different transits and transfers, and then take an express train (which was really quiet and zippy by the way. I promise, if I would have been playing ‘Red light, Green light’ the train really would have got the jump on me at the platform -sneaking up to me on those silent, snow-covered rails). Anywho..

I made my way, some four hours, to Takikawa town, to watch a ten-year anniversary dance performance. The studio, Izanai dance/Suga jazz dance studio were hosting the event at a local cultural center.

Not only was I astounded by the ride and travel down to the venue, but by the performance in turn. The travel down to the host town took me on roads and trails that I haven’t seen before and there was something sparkling about seeing the wintery ocean splashing on the snowy shores of Hokkaido; and then seeing younglings and adults alike spinning and jazz-ing their hearts out on stage.

The performance included a motivational speaker, or public speaker, and even a taiko performance -loved it. SO many varieties of dance were represented -traditional Japanese -including shamisen and taiko solos. There was a lot of yelling and spinning, interpretive ballet, hip hop and a few other kinds of dance in between.

This wasn’t my occasional Sunday. It was better.
After it was all said and done the one teacher from my town who invited me to watch the performance (he was performing, too), he and I lent a hand in cleanup and wrap up and then we all gathered at the group’s dance studio after unloading scaffolding and stage props. We all said some hellos, shared some goodbyes, and then the teacher and I made our way back to our northern town by car while the rest of the dance troupe prepared for a post-perofmance celebration. Sounds so fun, don’t it?

Four hours by car in the cold, dark, and snow. But our return home was not without ramen in Rumoi (a hub/main town for our sub-prefecture within Hokkaido) and a few convenience store rest stops.

Now its back to the office for Monday and I have a few classes at high school in the next couple of afternoon hours. But now if you’ll excuse me, I have to study a little Japanese -so as to keep up with the whirl of life that spins round me every day here in town. All in Japanese.

Did I say Monday? When you get around to yours good luck to you too.

Coffee.