Canadian Spirit Holiday Services: Japanese Performing Artists in Canada: Kiwanis K-Kids, Penticton, BC, Canada

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Japanese Performing Artists in Canada: Kiwanis K-Kids, Penticton, BC, Canada:

On September 21, 2009 two professional performing artists (Akiko and Sachiko) put on a traditional Japanese cultural performance for the Kiwanis K-Kids in Penticton. Kiwanis K-Kids is a community service organization, and its young members (ages 6 to 12) promise to “serve my neighbourhood and my school; show respect toward my environment; and try to make the world a better place in which to live." Akiko and Sachiko started the show by teaching the young children traditional Japanese dance. The children had a lot of fun as they tied Japanese "hachimakis" around their heads and used the Japanese clappers to follow the music and dance steps. After the dance Sachiko played the Japanese "shamisen" (traditional Japanese guitar), and then Akiko and Sachiko launched into Apron Theatre. This type of theatre is a traditional story-telling exercise performed by Japanese mothers for their children, and that night Akiko and Sachiko did their rendition of "The Three Little Pigs" which both the children and adults found hilarious! Finally, the two artists taught the children how to make a Japanese origami pop gun which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Again, the traditional Japanese cultural performance was huge success and the Kiwanis K-Kids and their parents had a lot of fun both watching and interacting with the professional performers.

We would like to thank Colleen Emshay of Kiwanis K-Kids for allowing Akiko and Sachiko to perform and we would like to congratulate the young children on being such an attentive and participatory audience. Thank You!

We are accepting guests for 2010. For further information please send us an e-mail, and we will be in contact with you shortly. Thank you