Real Geisha Dance in a Kyoto Ryokan

Luckily being an IES Student when we took a trip to Kyoto we were able to have a chance to watch an actual dance by real Geiko (Term for Geisha from Kyoto) and Maiko (Apprentince Geiko) as well as chat with them. Here is a small recording of the dance they performed for us.

[@BalletBabyBoy]

An ancient and beautiful art! Wonderful!!!

[@kahirah]

what a beautiful maiko. absolutely impressive.

[@chuckadave]

I love to see this live

[@Fuyuumesan]

Wow, I haven't seen the Butterfly Dance performed in a pair before. That's lovely. You're so lucky. I'm hoping I can go and see maiko and geiko perform very soon. ^^

[@Sotkai11]

@FluffyXBunnies A maiko is an apprentice geisha. She goes through and apprenticeship period of about 4-6 years. When she becomes geiko, she chooses to specialize as a dancer or musician.

[@Zenperage]

I recorded this in the dining room of a Ryokan, but it was not in Gion. It may have been pretty close though. I do not know the geography of Kyoto very well, but I have been to Gion before on an earlier trip.

[@zinkuro0731]

きれいですね♪いつか見てみたいです！！

[@DirtyTechnoBitch]

OMG you are the luckiest person in the world! It is impossible to see something like this in private quarters, let alone be allowed to film it. I give you kudos, lots and lots of kudos! Great Video thanks for posting it%

[@calenlass]

I can see it as well. Mihoko's restraint has a certain expressiveness to it that catches the eye.

[@ssummerlandc]

Wow. Japanese dance is just so...elegant. I will quote a certain movie: "Geishas take you into another world, one of only beauty."

[@waqwaqsx]

Japanese..hear..mind..harmony..peel.....ups and downs..scarce..such..Japan..help..thank you..this..kindness..without fail..return.

[@Zenperage]

Actually the one in the yellow is the Maiko. The Geiko's dress and appearance is more subdued than that of the Maiko.

[@Oshidorinohina]

the one in the blue is a geiko or "geisha" and think of maiko as mini, so all maiko are mini geiko and are also teenagers, see if that helps, and maiko ALWAYS use their real hair and geiko wear wigs and have shorter sleeves and a white collar maiko have a red collar

[@rooivaalk]

Very, very Impressive.

[@Calucifer13]

A really good explanation. I though it could be like that.

[@kittenbut1]

Now I understand more why Geisha sort of diminish on the looks, because even though the maiko has lots of make-up, beautiful hair ornaments on, and a more elaborate kimono..my eyes still turn to the Geisha because she is graceful and enchanting while the maiko looks clumsy still.

[@eburel506]

@Imperage is the maiko just starting out. I heard somewhere that the more colorful the more junior the Maiko. And her kimono is alot more colorful then the blue geiko.

[@edienandy]

eburel506 I realize this comment was made 8 years ago but I just wanted to say you can tell she’s a junior maiko because of the dangling flower kanzashi she wears in her hair. The more senior maiko don’t wear those.

[@Zenperage]

@eburel506 At the time of the video, she had only started about a year ago, she was 15. Thanks for watching.

[@anyjen]

That is the gist, in fact. As maiko are still in training and they are not as skilled, they need to look prettier and more feminine, while geiko rely on their mature and simple beauty, coupled with their skills in the arts.

[@XamiNaxamis]

Yum whip cream. Then i don't have to go to the grocery store.

[@skyzofrenika]

You're right, i should've known because of the hair hornaments :X

[@Fukusensei]

Really nice ^^ it can't be easy to do such a dance. Is the Maiko the one on the right? I'm just guessing because of the obi 0.o

[@Cahriicchuu]

That is very lucky ;D

[@kittenbut1]

Well that may be you, but I can definately see difference in the technique.

[@XamiNaxamis]

I only look at the geiko because she's closest to me.

[@ardilladeltibet]

lol, don't be angry, I respect your culture and I watch this becouse is nice learn other cultures

[@claw789]

Nice. Is this from Gion? The geiko playing the shamisen looks a bit like Terukoma.

[@spockette]

The maiko looks like mamesome o-o

[@minnesotagirl]

I am not sure about the geiko's name but the maiko is Kosen :)

[@Wing_Goddess]

You would have looked better if you didn't comment.

[@geiko14]

was your director Peter Macontosh?

[@geiko14]

hello does anyone know what the name of this dance is i think it is saukra? just a guess

[@kmah88]

when was this footage taken? and, if you remember, what was the name of the ryokan?

[@skyzofrenika]

The one in blue is tha Maiko, right? She seems to dance worse than the other one, i could be wrong tho :s

[@Calucifer13]

The maiko seems more feminine to me than her Older sister.

[@kmah88]

from which district?

[@FluffyXBunnies]

whats the difference between a geiko and maiko?

[@calenlass]

Anyone know the name of the dance?

[@user-zz8px9lz2m]

ggthcgthはほんとに日本人？なのにお魚食べられないの？ 高級寿司は別として、普通にスーパーの寿司とか毎日売り切れてるけど。 もしかしてなんちゃって日本人？

[@ggthcgth]

日本人は寿司なんてほとんど食べないし、芸者を見たことない人の方が多い。