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Dancing Maidens

The more graceful, the more mystical, the more piteous the dance of the dancing maidens, the more fully one enjoys the story.

Momiji-hime, who appears in "Mt.Ôe", is the daughter of a prominent family in the capital, but she is carried off by a demon and shut into a stone cave in the mountains. Every night she is torn into a thousand pieces, to be someone's snack at a party. It could be our fate tonight. And still she does as the demon orders and washes her blood-stained clothing in a mountain stream Her spirit is broken.

The "maidens" of "Viewing Fall Foliage" transform themselves into beautiful seductresses and invite the very men who have come to vanquish them to their picnic. Their vivacity and charm pours forth and spectators are are transfigured into Koremochi himself, feeling all the same emotions he must be feeling. The she-devils, drunk on their own magic, fall in love with Koremochi. If only they could be beautiful forever... When their true character is revealed, Koremochi attacks them. Koremochi's inner conflict is reflected in the maidens' dance.

Taira no Masakado's daughter, Satsuki-hime, attacks her father's enemies to avenge him and then escapes and becomes an ascetic. She masters witchcraft and transforms herself into the beautiful enchantress Takiyasha-hime and bewitches her sworn enemies.

Whenever the women show their true character, whether it be when they are being slain, when they are fighting a man, or when they are the prey of a demon or serpent, the story ends on a sad note. But the question is, what effect does the inclusion of a maiden have on the beauty and pathos of Kagura?

The dances performed by maidens before fighting a demon or a god has an important role in Kagura and greatly contribute to its enjoyment. In fact, their dances are not just another scene but rather the climax of the story. For this reason, Kagura groups must have their best dancers perform female roles.

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NPO Hiroshima kagura Art Laboratory

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