Yukie Shiroma

Author: Hiroko Saito

Yukie Shiroma is an instructor of Okinawan Dance courses in the Dance Program with the UHM Department of Theatre and Dance.
We delve into her background and the teaching methodology to explore the contribution to our community.

1. Who are you? What is your connection with Okinawan Studies at UHM?

My name is Yukie Shiroma. I am an Okinawan-American sansei born in Hawaiʻi and raised in San Francisco. I began studying Okinawan dance after extensive training in the Western dance forms of ballet, jazz, and modern. I moved back to Hawaiʻi in 1980 and after receiving an MFA in Dance from UHM, started the dance program at Mid-Pacific Institute. Since 2013 I have been teaching Okinawan dance at UHM in the Department of Theatre & Dance.

2. How has Okinawan dance, music, and culture influenced your identity as a sansei Okinawan?

Through the study of Okinawan dance, music, and language, I have come to understand my ancestral history more fully which has broadened and strengthened my identity as an Okinawan-American. I share what I learn with my students in the hope that they will look to their ethnicities to better understand themselves and how they are connected to others.

3. What strategies do you use when teaching Okinawan dance at UHM?

Most of my UHM students are not dancers and many have no prior knowledge of Okinawa. Because of this, I have had to be creative in reaching students who are not necessarily visual and kinesthetic learners by incorporating more discussion and small group work than in most dance classes. I teach dances from both the court and folk traditions and include each dance’s historical and cultural significance. We learn the Okinawan language through the lyrics.

If you are looking to deepen your understanding of Okinawan culture, I highly recommend enrolling in Yuki-sensei's classes at the UHM! You will learn not only Okinawan dance and music but language and history that help your understanding the richness of Okinawan culture.