original text by Hesti Setiarini, executive summary by darmansjah
The faces of thedancersworemasksshapeddemon. They danced in groups. Each group of eight people. Each dancer doing the acrobat in pairs. Sword wielding prepared in conjunction with the flick of a dynamic fan. The audience was amazed before them. Graceful and character.
The sword and the fan is a symbol to ward off evil spirits. I was watching oni kembai, which literally means dance sword dance exorcist. This dance has been around since 701 AD from Kitakami city, Iwate Prefecture. Initially, oni kembaia Buddhist sacred dances to ward off evil spirits or demons who disturb the peace of mankind. However, with changing times become part of the folk dances Iwate.
There are many variations oniKembaidance moves . Myself,two,threetofive. The dancersdressed incostumesdominatedthe red,blackand whitewith a decorativematcoatedimageandasymbolofthelittlekimonoin the buttocks. Weapon systemdrumaccompanimentmusic, flutesand bellsproduce adistinctiverhythmthatmakesthis dance israthermonotonousas ifto hypnotizethe viewer todissolve ineachmovement.
OniKembaidancecan be enjoyedinIwatemassat variousfestivalsover the past fourseasonseach year. BhakanFutagogroup, asmallvillageinKitakamisincethe 1970'shas been knownas Europe andAmerica.