10,000 Eisa Dancer Parade in Naha

I think she was the youngest drummer there.

Eisa is a traditional dance with a long history. It originates from a folk song that used to be sung several hundred years ago. The dance style was passed down by groups of young people who would pay respect to their ancestors each summer by marching through their neighborhoods while playing taiko drums.

The unique rhythms and movements of eisa are accompanied by the beating of drums and a beautiful, lively dance that involves the whole body. Recently some people have started using rock and pop music instead of just traditional music to create popular new styles of dance known as "creative eisa." Source  

At the Dental Corps Birthday Ball the Eisa performers danced to Who Let the Dogs Out.   It was fun to see them dance to a non-traditional song.

We attended the 10,000 Eisa Dancers Parade in Naha this year.  I love seeing all the colors and different ages of the dancers.  When all the drummers are drumming in sync and you can feel it as you stand there on the street.  It is amazing.  

Here are several groups walking to their places along the route.

Here are a few shots of a group performing.  They jump and twirl, it is very cool.

Of course our blond brood creates quite a stir wherever we go.  They were more than happy to pose with our kids.  The young men in stripes saw me taking pictures of the kids and just jumped in.  They are laying on Jayce's lap, he thought it was pretty funny.  The last pictures shows 5 photographers wanting pictures of our kids.