Yoke Chin Kham brings Japanese cultural dance to Nuku'alofa [1]
Friday, September 7, 2012 - 16:05. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Visiting Nuku'alofa this week, a Japanese cultural dancer, Yoke Chin Kham, has made five appearances, with a special lunch time performance yesterday, hosted by the Embassy of Japan.
Yoke Chin Kham performed three dances, including a nine minutes long, Fuji Ondo, an extract taken from Fujimusume, Spirit of the Wisteria from a music genre, Nagauta, or long song; and Renjishi – lion dance from a music genre, Ozatsuma, long song.
A new contemporary piece that was specially created upon request for the occasion, was called 'Return', with music from the Matsuri album, Hour of the Dragon Shakuhachi by Riley lee and the Sydney Synergy Percussion Group.
Yoke Chin, a Malaysian-born Chinese who has studied the complexity and power of Eastern Performing Arts and Eastern Movement Philosophy, lives in Sydney, Australia, and was touring Tonga from September 3-7.