Mihoya Hoonen Odori - 三保谷豊年踊り (Japan)

Mihoya Hoonen Odori 

三保谷豊年踊り

Japan

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. We learned the dance from Shirley Hauck, who learned it in Japan from the choreographer Kyoko Uzuki and from their friend Nobuko Shimada. Kyoko Uzuki was honored by the Japanese Emperor at an event this past summer.  This dance is supposed to represent parts of the harvest.

Singer: Minoru Onoda (小野田実)
Lyrics: Yajima Noriko (矢島寵児)
Composer: Haruo Kurauma (倉若晴生)
Arranger: Maki Makino (牧野三朗)
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Circle of individuals, all facing LOD (CCW)
Introduction: Start with singing.

Part 1: Sunrise

Bars 1-2: take a step forward on R foot with a deep knee bend, arms swing up over head out to the side and down, and then up in front of the body with arms parallel and with palms up -- all while you straighten up and close L next to R, slowly shifting weight onto L

Part 2: Mirrors (Getting ready in the morning)

Bar 1: Step forward on R foot, while bringing L palm in front of face (as if it were a mirror), R hand goes forward (1,2). Step forward on L foot, while brining R palm in front of face, L hand goes forward (3,4)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1

Part 3: Shading your face as you go outdoors

Bar 1: Backing up in RLOD, step back on R (1,2), R arm swings back with R leg, while L hand shades eyes. Step back on L, L arm goes back and R arm shades eyes (3/4)  (This is counterintuitive, the same leg and arm move backwards at the same time)
Bar 2: Repeat counts 1,2 of Bar 1. Instead of stepping on L back, just touch it back with no weight, L arm goes back and R arm shades eyes as in Bar 1.

Part 4: Sowing seeds

Bar 1: Step forward on L, while putting L hand straight forward at chest height. R hand rests on top (1,2), close R next to L, while bending both knees, R hand drops down out of L palm as if dropping seeds (3,4)
Bar 2: repeat bar 1

Part 5: Celebration

Bar 1: With a big movement, cross L over R moving forward in LOD, clap hands (1), hop on L, starting to lift R around (2), Cross R over L moving in LOD, clap hands (3), hop on R (4)
Bar 2: repeat bar 1

Part 6: Invite every one to the festival

Bar 1: Step forward on L (1), R (2), L (3), with a bend on the L, pause (4), both arms are extended to the R side at chest height and hands flick down and up on counts (1-3)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork and with arms extended to the L side

Part 7: Clapping Interlude

Bar 1:  Standing still with feet together and weight on both feet, clap both hand together (1), clap again (&), Pause (2), Clap hands again (3), Pause.
Bar 2: Step forward on R, R arm goes up high with palm facing the ceiling, left arm is crossed in front of body touching kimono sleeve (your bicep) (1,2), Step forward on L, L arm goes up with palm facing the ceiling, R arm across in front of body (3,4)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2
Bar 4: Repeat bar 2
Bar 5: Repeat bar 1 (clapping)

repeat dance from the beginning.

Tucson Video

Other videos on the web.

There are two dances in this video. Mihoya Hoonen Odori is the second one. It starts at 1m20s


Also spelled: Mikoya, Hounen, Ondo, 音頭, みほやほうねんおどり