On Sunday, April 21, the Lynch Dance Institute, a ballet school in Poway near San Diego held the Third Annual Every Body Dances at the Joan B Kroc Theatre at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in San Diego.
The mission of Every Body Dances is to bring together San Diego's youth and adult performers from diverse communities for collaboration to share their culture through the art of dance.
This year's performers included: XianJian Dance Studio (China), Kazumi Soltys (Japan), Tej Dance Studio (India), Kalpoli Toneluayo (Mexico), Step 2 Dance Ballroom - Chacha Rumba (Latin Countries), Lynch Dance Institute - United States of America Kids (ages 3-adult), and Motunehnehe (Hawaiian)
Kazumi Soltys danced two pieces, a female dance and a male dance, hoping that everyone would enjoy Japanese dance.
Kazumi remarked: Compared to other types of dance, Japanese dance has a slow rhythm and tempo, but I was able to dance very comfortably, with dancers from other countries and the audience watching quietly and intently.
Even if they don't understand the Japanese lyrics, I think they can convey Japanese culture through the gestures and expressions of the dance.
Stage costumes are very important. This time, the women wore geisha-style kimonos for the female dance, and samurai-style hakama for the male dance.
I felt that the fact that people from other countries were interested in the beautiful stage costumes of kimonos and accessories such as umbrellas, hand towels, and fans was also a way of conveying Japanese culture.