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Awa Odori is a traditional Japanese festival dance originating from Tokushima Prefecture with over 400 years of history. Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting around 1.5 million tourists every year.
Awa Odori OHIO was formed in 2024 to perform at the Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival. We started with 12 members, two of whom had previous Awa Odori dance experience. With the help of Karen Jiobu of IVO, we were able to obtain essential Awa Odori dance items to get started. Most of our current dance costumes were supplied by Columbus Kimono.
What We Do
What We Do
First Awa Odori Group in Central Ohio
We embrace the community festival spirit of Awa Odori, creating an inclusive environment where community members can dance together.
Cultural Connections
We bring people from different backgrounds together. Music and dance are universal to the human experience and Awa Odori is especially easy for first-time dancers to join in and enjoy.
Multigenerational and Family Participation
We are open to all and welcome dancers of all backgrounds and ages. Our membership includes parents and children dancing together and sharing in this cultural activity.
Community Reach
We welcome the opportunity to share Awa Odori in both large performance spaces and smaller group settings. We have performed in a variety of festivals and locations across Franklin County.
Interactive Experience
We encourage audience participation. After each performance, we offer a quick dance lesson and invite community members to participate in a short dance.
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