(Image 1 seen above)

(Video 1)

The islands of Okinawa have a centuries-long tradition of influence from outside forces which has spilled over culturally, blending different elements into the Okinawan culture.  In order to maintain their native language and local histories, kumi odori, a traditional Ryukyuan form of dance-drama, was developed.

Kumi odori  was designed to maintain a delicate balance between the foreign entities which held considerable influence over Okinawa, and the cultural identity of her people.  It preserves the ancient Ryukyuan language, defines identity politics, and expresses gender roles and social classes through its execution, dance-techniques, and musical components.