Hello everyone.

I’m Yamanaka Camera. I’ve been participating in this year’s Kamiyama Artist in Residence since September.

As part of my work as an artist, I come to various communities as an outsider, with an outsider’s viewpoint, and make up a modern festival song, including the lyrics, melody, and dance choreography, and have lots of local people join in to perform the festival song. You could say I’m a Bon Dance Festival organizer.

Now I’m spending two months in Kamiyama and I’ve used the things that have moved me in my experiences here to make the Bon Dance / Kamiyama Sudachi Ondo. (in this case, “sudachi” means both the fruit and the Japanese word for “leaving the nest”) I’ve had the help of lots of Kamiyama people in recording this music.

The Bon Odori Festival will be held on the evening of November 3rd, on the grounds of the former Shimobun Elementary School. However!

On October 24, from 19:30, there will be a practice event for participants to learn the dance that goes with the festival song.

The choreography is a Yamanaka Camera original, and everyone of every age, children to seniors, is welcome to come and dance.

I’ll also be recording people’s calls and interjections right there on the spot, and the sounds will be incorporated into the recording I use during the festival.

Everyone, please come and participate!

[Dance Practice]
Time: October 24 (Saturday) from 19:30
Place: Shimobun Kominkan 2F

Check out the music what I got so far!