On September 7, members of the International Team -Go!!- got together and held the first practice session for this year’s YOSAKOI Sasebo Matsuri. Members from last year seemed to be very excited about the long-waited reunion while more than twenty were new members and trial participants.
9月 7日、インタナショナルチーム -GO!!- の練習会が行われました！練習初日からおよそ45人が参加。去年からのメンバーも待ちに待ったとばかりに大勢集まってくれました！そして、新規メンバー＆体験希望者も20 人以上参加してくださいました。
First, we learnt how to use Naruko (a pair of wooden clappers). Instructors taught it to participants step by step so kindly that there was no worries for beginners.
まずは鳴子の鳴らし方を学びます。インストラクターが丁寧に教えてくれるので初めての方も安心です。
Then, dancing practice began. The lyrics and choreography were explained both in Japanese and English.
いよいよ踊りの練習スタート。歌詞や振り付けの説明は、日本語と英語で行われます。
The choreography has a lot of repetition, so participants gradually got used to it. By the time they had learned the whole routine, smiles broke out on everyone’s faces, their chanting voices got louder, and the atmosphere livened a lot.
振り付けは繰り返しが多いので、初めての方も、だんだんと慣れてきます。一通り踊れるようになる頃には、会場が大いに盛り上がりました。
The next practice & trial session will be held on September 21st (12:00-14:00). The International Team-GO!!- is aiming to have 100 members this year. We are still recruiting, so please come to the trial session first.
Venue: Yamazumi Chiku Community Center.
3F Auditorium (within walking distance from Sasebo Station)
Bring your indoor shoes for dancing, water, and a towel.
次回の練習会は9月21日 (12:00-14:00)。2024年度のインタナショナルチーム-GO!!-はメンバー100人を目指しています。まだまだ募集中ですので、まずは体験会にお越し下さい。
場所：山澄地区コミュニティセンター3階 講堂
室内用シューズ、飲み物、タオルをお持ち下さい。
Q&A Questions
Team Captain Jason is answering common questions that people from outside Japan might want to know.
キャプテンのジェイソンがよくある質問に答えてくれたよ。（英語です）
Q1. What is YOSAKOI? |よさこいって何？
Yosakoi is a Japanese dance style which combines elements of traditional Japanese dance and music with a variety of modern influences (jazz, rock, hip hop, samba etc.), and is performed at a number of festivals throughout Japan. If you have never seen Yosakoi before, you can expect an energetic dance with a traditional Japanese influence. Here is a video of summary of the 2023 festival:
Q2. What is [ INTERNATIONAL TEAM – GO!! -]?| インターナショナルチーム -GO!!-とは？
INTERNATIONAL TEAM – GO!! – is part of a project by Sasebo City’s Executive YOSAKOI Committee and Sasebo E-Channel to bring people from all around the world together to perform with Japanese locals to deepen our friendships and mutual understanding through dance. All ages and nationalities are welcome (kindergarteners and above)! Here is a clip from one of our performances at the 2023 festival:
Q3. When and where are rehearsals?|練習日はいつ、どこで？
Every Saturday from September 21st. (9/21, 28, 10/5, 12)
Time:10:00 – 12:00
*Except September 21st which is from 12:00 – 14:00
Venue: Yamazumi Chiku Community Center.
3F Auditorium (within walking distance from Sasebo Station)
Q4. When and where is the festival?|お祭りはいつあるの？
October 19th and 20th (Saturday + Sunday) in Sasebo City.
**Performance locations and times will be made available at a later date.
***If you’re not available for both festival days, you can just attend on one of two days.
Q5. What if I can’t dance…|踊れるか不安です
The dance is simple enough for beginners to learn and flexible enough for those who are more advanced to add their own flavor to it.
We are also looking for Flag-Bearers, Aori (people who get the crowd hyped up on the microphone whilst the performance is going on) and general support staff to assist the team on the day of the performance.
Q6. Do I need to go to every rehearsal?|練習日は全部参加しないといけないの？
Whilst coming to every session is the most advantageous, you don’t need to come to every session, but come to as many as you can. That said, please come to at least 1 rehearsal to get used to dancing in formation with the rest of the team.
Here is a dance guide to get a head start, or to practice along with at home.
