Mamie (you might remember her from our PingMag party?) had her big dance at the National Theater “YOSHIMI-KAI” in Hanzomon last Saturday. Under the name of Toshikotono Hanayagi, she danced “KYOKANOKO MUSUME DOUJYOUJI”, an amazing almost one hour long piece, accompanied by her 12 pupils (all wearing VERY funky science-fiction style hats! Hard to believe, this is traditional Japanese wardrobe…).
Having the big honor to be so close to a Japanese traditional dancer, I took the chance to go backstage for PingMag and take a few pictures!
Amazing to see the natural Mamie transformed into a porcellan doll, which still moves. I was fascinated by the massive Kimono she was wearing. Some kind of miracle Kimono, that was: while she was dancing on the stage, another man in a supposed to be camouflage-kimono (seems like Japanese people don’t notice him at all…) was hiding behind her, pulling the strings (literally) from her kimono and MAGIC: another completely different kimono appeared. Mamie changed about 7 times while dancing…. so you might imagine how much this lovely costume weighs!
Another interesting experience, was to see, with how much force and skill this heavy wig is pulled over her already taped head. I took a little movie for you here.
I wish I could have taken any photos inside - her dance was just breathtaking! I highly recommend to go and see her, if you ever get the chance (maybe in a year’s time?).
Saying good bye to her after the show, she looked happily exhausted- and totally different, without the wig. Thank you for the interesting experience!
PS. Our new weeklyColumn is online! Uleshka speaks to Robert Klanten of the iconic Die Gestalten Verlag. Enjoy!
at the entrance of the National Theatre
backstage: lots of equipment stored
the stage entrance! I was very tempted to walk out there....
Mamie with her taped hair
her and her mother's dressing room
Mamie and her students
being fed banana for an extra energy boost before the dance
...while her hands are being powdered white
the man with the wig already waiting
putting on the wig... that picture somehow reminds me of Starwars...
further adjustments
urgh! Itchy!!!!
Sorry! I scratched....
No probs! I will fix it!
arrangement for the album-picture
Mamie's students having their hands powdered
coming together for the group picture
here we go!
Mamie after her dance wearing her last kimono
getting rid of make up
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