Noh Theatre
Alexi Robles
Period 6
Mrs. Espinosa
How is movement and dance used in Noh Theatre? Noh is a highly misunderstood and often overlooked form of art. Often criticized for being unnecessarily lethargic and minimal in overall performance and structure, it is not highly appreciated. However, it is much more than most make it out to be; Noh is an ancient tradition of Japanese theatre that has been kept alive and continuously refined by a small group of people who seek nothing more than to perfect this art form that has long been held as sacred. Noh theatre began in ancient Japan some one thousand three hundred years ago under the name sarugaku as a borrowed form of theatre from China. The credit for transforming sarugaku into the Noh theatre that …show more content…
Jo-no-mai is a lethargic, painfully slow dance which is typically used by female characters of all rankings. These can include but are not limited to shirabyōshi (a female wanderer who wears male apparel), elite woman, or female spirits and goddesses. Otoko-mai is a rapid tempo dance typically used by a man character set in the present or used as a festive dance. Kami-mai is a frenetic dance typically performed by actors portraying a male god. Gaku is a type of dance that begins with a very slow tempo, but as time goes on, the tempo picks up the slowly before climaxing in a fast paced dance. Kagura is a dance typically performed by an actor portraying a goddess or Shinto priestess. As is clearly obvious by now, there are many very specific types of dance used in Noh theatre to convey stories, messages, and feelings in a different manner than words in a typical dialogue could ever hope to accomplish. ("Introducing the world of Noh : Noh Dance") Noh theatre is a very old art form that is very reliant on dance. Although it may seem monotonous and unchanging at first, it just takes some getting used to. It takes someone who can see the complexity and beauty of all the dancing to truly feel connected on an emotional, spiritual, and personal level with the protagonist of the production. One who can truly see the art behind the dance of Noh will truly appreciate it as a legitimate work of art worth paying mind
Period 6
Mrs. Espinosa
How is movement and dance used in Noh Theatre? Noh is a highly misunderstood and often overlooked form of art. Often criticized for being unnecessarily lethargic and minimal in overall performance and structure, it is not highly appreciated. However, it is much more than most make it out to be; Noh is an ancient tradition of Japanese theatre that has been kept alive and continuously refined by a small group of people who seek nothing more than to perfect this art form that has long been held as sacred. Noh theatre began in ancient Japan some one thousand three hundred years ago under the name sarugaku as a borrowed form of theatre from China. The credit for transforming sarugaku into the Noh theatre that …show more content…
Jo-no-mai is a lethargic, painfully slow dance which is typically used by female characters of all rankings. These can include but are not limited to shirabyōshi (a female wanderer who wears male apparel), elite woman, or female spirits and goddesses. Otoko-mai is a rapid tempo dance typically used by a man character set in the present or used as a festive dance. Kami-mai is a frenetic dance typically performed by actors portraying a male god. Gaku is a type of dance that begins with a very slow tempo, but as time goes on, the tempo picks up the slowly before climaxing in a fast paced dance. Kagura is a dance typically performed by an actor portraying a goddess or Shinto priestess. As is clearly obvious by now, there are many very specific types of dance used in Noh theatre to convey stories, messages, and feelings in a different manner than words in a typical dialogue could ever hope to accomplish. ("Introducing the world of Noh : Noh Dance") Noh theatre is a very old art form that is very reliant on dance. Although it may seem monotonous and unchanging at first, it just takes some getting used to. It takes someone who can see the complexity and beauty of all the dancing to truly feel connected on an emotional, spiritual, and personal level with the protagonist of the production. One who can truly see the art behind the dance of Noh will truly appreciate it as a legitimate work of art worth paying mind