Paper short abstract:

Japanese dance has changed from innovative to traditional after establishment in pre-war Japan. This paper explores historical attempts of Japanese dance to resist this trend and discusses how the innovative attempts have related to the mainstream of traditionalization.

Paper long abstract:

Contrary to expectations, traditional Japanese dance has shorter history. Its first official organization for professional dancers was founded in 1931. This is the predecessor of today's Nihon Buyo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Dance Association). The term nihon buyo literally means Japanese dance and it does not include any term meaning classical. As this term show, nihon buyo referred to a new wave dances which were expected to assume the role of theatrical art form authenticated by the modern nation-state of Japan. Umemoto Rikuhei(1897-1985), prominent dancer and choreographer, went to Europe in the 1930's to learn European dances. He introduced Laban's dance theory and produced many dance performances which were not at all traditional Japanese.

In contrast to the pre-war developments, "nihon buyo" stopped to represent art form and have gradually withdrawn into the shell of tradition. Surrounded by various new art styles even in the genre of dance in Japan, it had no choice but to continuously remain as a part of the Japanese traditional arts and has given up its literal meaning. Even in this climate, there had been attempts of traditional Japanese dancers to show their creativity and to establish their original thought in 1950's to 1970's.

Buyō Gekijo (literally means "Dance Theater") is the most outstanding and influential example in the history. It belongs to the first attempts to reverse the conventional image of the then Japanese classical dance. It is also the attempt to do things that are contrary to the conservative head-master system of traditional culture. In the pursuit of the better performance, it removed regulations of the system and gather young dancers and artists from different schools of Japanese dance. The movement of this dance troupe inspired contemporary arts and has become the legendary today.

This paper explores the achievements of this dance troupe and through positioning their accomplishments in the history of Japanese dance, discusses how the new dances have worked in its transition.