2024: 33rd Annual Olympia Bon Odori Japanese Dance Festival (Saturday) Olympia Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens’ League-South Puget SoundNEW

Saturday, August 10, 2024, 5-9 pm, is Olympia’s 33^rd Bon Odori Japanese Dance Festival, presented by the Olympia Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens’ League.

NEW LOCATION - this year we will be on the campus of the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), in front of the Center for Student Success - (Building 22). At 5 pm food trucks will open, followed by community presentations.  Taiko and dancing start at 7pm.

In Buddhist tradition, souls of ancestors join their living relatives during this summer festival to dance. In villages throughout Japan, people enjoy taiko drumming, eat, drink, and dance in the steps of their families that came before for 13 centuries.  Olympia, without a Japanese Buddhist temple, observes the secular aspects of the celebration.  Bon dances rejoice in life, as we visit with ancestors who have departed for the spirit world and remember those we have lost in more recent months and years. Taiko drumming, a large, loud drum ensemble, was used to send messages between villages in mountainous Japan.

Dancing begins at 7 pm.  8 pm brings a break in the dancing, and a taiko performance.  The evening’s dancing concludes at 9 pm.  The dances are old favorites, including Hanabi Ondo, the Fireworks Dance.  Japanese fireworks are particularly beautiful and skilfully made.  This dance demonstrates the bursting of fireworks and will be danced later in the evening, after the sun sets, and we will have sparkling light rings available at cost for people to wear on their fingers.

Rather than separating observers and performers, all are encouraged to participate in this truly joyful, gentle celebration for the whole family.  Free dance lessons August 9^th, starting at 6 pm at the dance location.

About Olympia's Bon Odori
Olympia's Bon Odori, a secular adaptation of the traditional Japanese festival celebrating ancestors through dance and music, has returned. Organized by the Japanese-American Citizens’ League, the event fosters a sense of closure and togetherness, particularly poignant in light of recent losses experienced by many. Held at the South Puget Sound Community College campus, the festival maintains its core elements: traditional Japanese folk dances led by participants wearing colorful yukata, embodying a gentle and joyful atmosphere.

Bon Odori's significance lies in its representation of life's various aspects, from commemorating ancestors to celebrating recent memories. Despite its hiatus, the event preserves its essence, incorporating occasional new dances like a samba or an Electric Slide rendition. Alongside the dances, attendees enjoy taiko drumming, karate demonstrations, Okinawan drumming, and various food trucks, enriching the cultural experience.

Bon Odori Date
August 10, 2024, Saturday

Bon Odori Time
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Schedule
5:00 pm - Food Trucks
6:00 pm - Entertainment, Presentation
7:00 pm - Bon Odori Dancing 

New Location
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), in front of the Center for Student Success (Building 22)

Free Dance Lessons
August 9^th, starting at 6 pm at the dance location.

Past Titles
2018, Olympia Bon Odori Celebration (Performances of Taiko, Martial Arts, Food & Crafts for Sale) Illuminated Lantern Procession Around Lake
2023 Olympia Bon Odori Celebration (Performances of Taiko, Martial Arts, Food & Crafts) 

Location
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), in front of Building 22, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia