Geisha Dance

Geiko and maiko from Pontocho, Kyoto, dance for guests. Musician: Kazumi. Maiko: Hisano and Tomoyuki.

[@alkanye]

They look like dolls they are beautiful i love the art of geisha.

[@feather2907]

You will find they are both Maiko one jounior & one senior you can tell by the katsura worn not to mention the kanzashi styles. It is a truely inspiring dance & never fails to move me.

[@kugell45]

It's soooo beautiful!!Woman who plays shamishen has gorgeus voice..and geishas are beautiful!!I LOVE japanese culture!!!

[@KalaCaine]

So beautiful...Thank you so much for sharing it with the rest of us. For some, it is the only way to see a "live" proformance.

[@shamelessb]

Being aware of all the life long discipline this art requires, I would still love to be a geisha.

[@Hugejelly20]

you know geisha dances and music are so elegant i love it and how they dance its just so beautiful!!!

[@Knowles87]

Stunning...absolutely stunning, Geisha are so beautiful true artists and I love them

[@prettyhaha]

These are both maikos, they both have the long obi, red collars, and the split peach hairstyle.. beautiful dance :)

[@dalbyliza]

The song "Gion Kouta" is danced by the maiko of all the communities. And yes, the second half of this performance is a separate piece added on by the Pontocho geisha.

[@cutepiku]

The singer has a beautiful voice. I really enjoyed this.

[@NoLoveLost510]

I have to agree with you. The woman has an angelic voice!

[@10CherryCola]

it's amazing how cultures are so different brazil and africa have movements that involve rapid hip movements, then theres belly dancing, and this is sooo different but so pretty

[@slobomotion]

Whenever I feel low, anything geisha uplifts me. Thank you. Uprated. Favorited.

[@kimiko20]

The kimono is so beautiful.. especially the purple one

[@ConfettiPile]

Oh woooow~ This is beautiful beyond words.

[@princesshyrule]

I suppose that it takes an appreciation for other cultures to not be bothered by it. I think it is lovely. The kimono are absolutly beautiful!! I especially like the lavender one.

[@jenovella70]

I really enjoyed this woman's singing and playing, as well as the dancers performance. I found this video very relaxing and enjoyable. Thank you for posting :)

[@Esuper1]

Enthralling really when u think of the timeline of these dances and culture it represents overall.

[@tokusatsugod26]

I feel relaxed watching these beautiful japanese geisha dancing. Domo Arigato!!

[@Phylloscopustrochiloides]

Thank you for sharing! It's interesting to see this variation on the Gion Kouta.

[@fizzgona]

Just Beautiful !!! An example of femenine delicacy, talent and beauty... geishas make me feel proud of being a woman... in America men should attend such events instead of the stripper clubs which denigrate women and women should respect themselves more.... japan a great culture

[@AuroraNour]

I love Japan and japanese dance and every thing related to Japan!!!

[@Fearthainn453]

The ones dancing are maiko, the one in purple with red obi (Hisano), was a senior maiko at the time, but had her erikae more than one year ago (i.e. became a geiko), the red in the collar lessens as the 5 years of "maiko-hood" pass, until it's almost white when she's close to having her erikae ceremony (except for a patch of red in the back of the han-eri). In other words, these are a junior maiko(the one in light purple) and a senior maiko (one in darker purple), the one playing is a geiko.

[@MirrorDramatics37]

actually, I'm not sure if they still do it, but there is a charging system called ohana (flower). the mama-san of a tea house lighting an hour-long incense stick from the time the geiko arrives and keeps lighting them consecutively until said geiko leaves the party. of course, some geisha charge more for their company.

[@ann-deeMari]

The woman's voice was so relaxing! It almost made me fall asleep!

[@Akashia14Moka]

I saw Mamechiho dancing Gion Kouta- I love version from Gion. I saw Miehina dancing Gion Kouta too - she was very graceful,but look so different.

[@mageraine]

This was wonderfully beautiful. The maiko on the left was especially graceful, so it was a little disappointing to see the camera focus on the one in purple so often. Still, thank you for making this slice of Japanese tradition available for all to see!

[@Akashia14Moka]

Wow! Hisano when she was a maiko!she looked so nice!I have pics with her as geiko. In his dance she was very close to erikae,in one picture she is with Tomoyuki too,but she is a geiko and Tomoyuki is still junior maiko. Very nice video! Ookini san dosu!

[@gothassassin14]

Thank You so much for putting this video up! It's so beautiful and nice to see them perform. :D

[@ladyrebeccacroft]

So beautiful and serene!

[@bigballer9847]

I have a feeling people that watch this have no idea the difficulty of this dance, this is truly amazing to watch.

[@tamarexxe]

exquisite! My heart is too full. This is beyond beautiful. Merci mille fois

[@shizukagozen777]

Every dance tells of story, not always a tale, but there s always a story

[@jasminea1417]

this is so beautiful. it almost put me in a trance lol

[@dalbyliza]

The meaning of tying the obi with the knot in front or back is often misunderstood. Courtesans (who sold their bodies) did tie the obi in front. Geisha (who were not supposed to sell their bodies) tied it in back. But the reason was NOT so that the obi could be untied more quickly. In the 17th century, a MARRIED WOMAN tied her obi in the front, an unmarried woman tied it in back. (cont.)

[@akatsugaa]

I wish I could go to watch live geisha performance for one day ~~

[@1changgirl]

out of all i've seen, i really like this one. And no, i'm not saying the other one sucks. But this one reminds me alot of Japan and its more Japanese to me. I love it! Its beautiful!!!!

[@Evemoon69]

Her voice is so beautiful...

[@exvoto100]

Très beau ...merci..!!

[@catlillith]

Beautiful

[@dalbyliza]

Courtesans were technically "wives for the evening", thus the front-tied obi indicated their status as sexually experienced women. Geisha (not technically sexually available) were categorized socially a unmarried women, thus tying the obi in back.

[@RoninDave]

Beautiful! I've been fortunate to catch the public dance performances of Kamogawa Odori, Miyako Odori, Gion Odori, and Kyo Odori and a few appearances at festivals in Kyoto like the one they do at Yasaka Shrine for Setsubun v=5HonDg7UDhY and the Plum Blossom festival at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine v=O_WZzjhFlVM

[@orgoik]

What an amazing dance! It was very beautiful.

[@alestane]

@Ladyblindlove They both are maiko, as the comment says. The geiko is the shamisen player.

[@dalbyliza]

This was filmed last Saturday (9-22-07) in Kyoto. The maiko on the right is Hisano.

[@FancyShawl99]

Beautiful!

[@kab132]

Thank you for posting this lovely video!

[@Sawrattan]

This reminds me a lot of the court dance of Indonesia, especially Java. Very slow and reserved, but very elegant. And the music is also like traditional Indonesian music from West Java region, very haunting tunes.

[@WickedJesterL]

Truly beautiful and very graceful.

[@lollypop10184]

beautiful very beautiful

[@geiko14]

i love hisano she has the most striking features (^-^)

[@spikabass]

hermosa ma musica del shamisen y el baile de las maiko

[@Edgeworthscravat]

the long sleeves on a maiko's dress are meant to be reminiscent of childhood and make the maiko look childlike. The swinging sleeves are meant to endear the maiko to the clients. :)

[@MzJuice1313]

@WeirdoThingo Exactly, especially since that type of thing was banned for them in 1958. Years and years ago it was banned, and people continue to mark them for their past.

[@raffaellamariaribatti1747]

In Pontocho the song Gion Kouta is mixed up with Kamogawa Kouta, the song of Pontocho. "Gion Kouta" song has Gion in the title, but it isn't rappresentative about Pontocho, too. So they created their own song, but sometimes guests asked to dance Gion Kouta and not Kamogawa Kouta. So they mixed up the song

[@lucangel74]

Bellissime, io le ho viste dal vivo a Gion (kyoto) e sono davvero bellissime, sembrano delle bambole di pocellana.

[@m1dhun]

They really are beautiful,so is their culture. A lot to understand and see.

[@LovelyMadness13]

I've heard that some dances tell a story. Does any one know if this graceful dance tells a tale? Just curious. So lovely. ^^

[@shilysian]

love it :) i always enjoy watching these dances

[@Oshidorinohina]

they are so pretty, the song is kinda sad in my opinion, the tune is really entrancing, the elderly geiko singing it has a nice voice

[@LatinaVampire0231]

i love her voice

[@monteceitomoocher]

Very beautiful and mysterious, would love a trip to japan to see this.

[@CroobieLetter]

what I'd give to wear a kimono like that once!

[@CelestialAgony829]

Can someone fill me in on this style of dance. I'd love to learn more.

[@mzcyberbat]

Mz Dalby I loved your books, Thankyou so very much for this beautiful vid. Her kimono is my favourite colour too. So beautiful. Are they very hot to wear?

[@kreiger]

Absolutly beautiful. If I wasn't a guy, being geisha would be awsome. Is the song a common one performed for geisha dances? It sounds like the song in other vids I have seen.

[@BriarMaeriSibyle]

A maiko is an apprentice geisha... a geisha is a full geisha.

[@pinksalamanders]

The makeup they use for the white face is more like paint, or a pure white foundation. It goes on really well over even very dark skin too...so I'm sure you'd be lovely all done up, tan or otherwise. :)

[@TheJudeau]

This is quite poetic. The shamisen player is also very talented. What was the song called, Liza-sama?

[@malibu64]

the one in the purple is GORGEOUS.

[@伴野敬子]

舞妓さんの舞いは素晴らしいですね。 良い物を見せて頂きありがとうございました。🎉🎉

[@FRcypher]

@28880 Nice from you to admit it! I admire that! ;)

[@PommesBea]

That looks kinda hard...but it´s very beautiful!

[@isaingher8614]

I love the lavender kimono

[@noctisff6042]

Qué belleza!! Me encanta

[@Lil17Lil]

pretty!

[@Nippon161]

I love Japan !

[@xxxkimododragonxxx]

OMG - i love her voice !!!! ( Kazumi )

[@dalbyliza]

The dancers are maiko. The musicians are geiko.

[@goblina1785]

Arte bastante EXOTICO de la cultura Japonesa

[@MultiStalion]

so am i

[@mikalero]

Geiko and maiko are two regional terms for the same thing = apprentice geisha. If I recall, one is more prevalent with geisha trained in tokyo vs kyoto.

[@whiplash986]

Does anyone know the lyrics or the name of the music played? Thank you :)

[@Liesja92]

@WeirdoThingo I agree completely. People tend to confuse Geishas ( artists) with Oiran (courtesones). Such a shame they don't know the difference.

[@Not_a_Saint9891]

Liza dalby? aren't you the very first western geisha?

[@DarkOnyx98]

@nuriumzzzzzzzz that is a practice they do not do anymore and that is the only time they would sell something. it was like a rite of passage type deal. Haven't done that in a long time. might want to do more research there.. cause they do not sell their bodies.

[@madenkind]

if someone knows a website with favorite geishas of gion, i'd be thankful for a link!

[@seaa2]

@dalbyliza thanks. i learn something new everyday when i'm on youtube! haha. :)

[@tumblefan101]

ive noticed that there is a small difference in the pontocho darari obi than the gion,miyagawacho,kamishichiken (etc) both sides of the darari obi arent crossing over that much but the other obis are crossed over each dide its kinda weird bt otherwise beautiful dance

[@pothead42033]

very beautiful. 10

[@dalbyliza]

Good guess! Yes.

[@mledoll]

geishas are beautiful

[@Guppyg53]

I am well aware that geisha are not prostitutes. What statement did I make that led you to believe that I thought they perform sexual acts for a living? I also know that they undergo difficult training and must have great deals of determination, it is not an overnight miracle to become a geisha. I respect these women and nothing you say can contradict that

[@CohenTK]

The explanation by shizukagozen777 about Maiko and Geiko is not correct. Maiko is the beginning entertainer who passed the 1st stage of exam relating to the japanese traditional arts (like as dancing, playing various kind of musical instrument etc) and continuing the apprenticeship to brush up her artistic skills, while Geiko is the more qualified mature entertainer in every kind of artistic skills including tee serving ceremony, etiquette, hospitality, manners of conversation with clients.

[@CelebrianoLorien]

Oh. That makes more sense now.

[@am1966ath]

Japan is such a refined culture,such beauty behind the ugly concrete of modern Japan.

[@FerutElCampeador]

jejeje , muy bueno saludos a sonia!

[@kitty7701]

@crisoluatuamra This dance is called Gion Kouta, geiko and Maiko make different movement, this song called about 4 season, is very difficult, have you ever tryed?

[@watermelon520b]

I hear that it is rather expensive, exact price - I guess it varies depending on how much the geisha/maiko charges. That would be interesting to look up, because I was curious, too. :)

[@shizukagozen777]

Oh my... I think people should stop talking about something if they don t know what they are saying: maiko & geiko are 2 kansai words (region of Kyoto & Osaka). The 1rst represents an apprentice geisha, the 2nd a professional who passed the exam. Geiko means geisha, the only difference is that geiko is specific to Kyoto s geisha. (you can even find other words like for example "Hangyoku" which is the equivalent of the word "maiko" in the city of Tokyo)