TORRANCE — The Okinawa Association of America’s Geinobu (Performing Arts Committee) will present “Utayabira Wuduyabira,” the 18th biennial concert showcasing traditional Okinawan music and dance, on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance.
The title means “Let’s sing, let’s dance” in Uchinaaguchi (the Okinawan language). The concert will feature local musicians (sanshin, koto, taiko) and dancers coming together to celebrate and share the Okinawan culture for audiences of all generations and backgrounds.
The Geinobu was formed in 1987 and is currently composed of over 20 Okinawan dance, sanshin, koto, and taiko schools. Teachers and students from each school participate in the “Utayabira Wuduyabira” concerts, bringing a blend of koten ongaku (traditional music), buyo (traditional dance), minyo (folk music), and eisa (festival drums).
Tickets are $20. Make checks payable to OAA-Geinobu. For more information, call (310) 532-1929, email mensore@earthlink.net or visit www.oaamensore.org/.