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| Brooklyn Botanic Garden:
Cherry Blossom Festival '04 (Sakura
Matsuri) It was a pleasure to be back at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where the very popular Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden designed by Japanese landscape designer was opened in 1951. Also designed by Takeo Shiota: the shrine "Inari," God of the harvest and protector of plants. Enjoying the peace and serenity of this lovely garden, is especially unique at this time of year. "The Cherry Blossom Festival," a celebration of Japanese culture, is the annual right of spring celebration. In the essential melting pot, New York City. With simultaneous activities taking place in the auditorium (Japanese mime and music) and in the Meadow (Butoh dance). The center of activity is always the Cherry Blossom Esplanade Stage. Butoh Dance as it's called can be best described (by the uninitiated) as a horizontal mime of some sort, with these painted-white performers assuming a semi-circle in the meadow while slowly going through different motions from a horizontal position.In what in my estimation was
the highlight of the evening, at the Cherry Blossom Esplanade Stage. During
the armature group performance of the "Flower
Hat Dance," all at once,
without missing a beat, these dancers were stepping to a recording of Frank
Sinatra singing "New York, New York" in colorful symphony. The packed tent
appreciated this. My word! exciting stuff. |