SBU’s Cherry Blossom Festival features traditional Japanese performances
Stony Brook University hosted Sakura Matsuri (which translates roughly to Cherry Blossom Tree Festival) at the Charles B. Wang Center Sunday, May 7.
The event opened with a performance by Taiko Tides, an SBU Japanese musical group. They performed on the front steps to the Wang Center as attendees arrived.
Several dancers and dance groups performed in the Wang Center theater throughout the day. Junko Fisher performed an Okinawan dance and Ichifuji-kai Dance Association performed as well. The 10Tecomai Yosakoi dance team performed five different upbeat dance numbers, focusing on getting the crowd up on their feet and pumping their fists.
Several exhibitors set up booths throughout the Wang Center. The Long Island Bonsai Society displayed potted plants. There was also a Manga workshop and a brush painting demonstration. Later in the day, the Greater NY Naginata Federation produced a martial arts and weapons display.
The Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble, headed by Masayo Ishigure, performed on a kotos (a plucked half-tube zither instrument and the national instrument of Japan) and a shamisens (a three-stringed traditional Japanese instrument).
Visit our website at www.tbrnewsmedia.com or our YouTube site to watch a montage of some of the event’s performances.
