Added to the 2013 Nisei Week Festival calendar this year is “Geta Beat,” a program combining American tap dancing with traditional Japanese wooden geta sandals.
The free performance is open to the public and takes place this Saturday, Aug. 17, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Noguchi Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo.
Chaired by former Nisei Week Queen Dulcie Ogi, “Geta Beat” features onetime Nisei Week Miss Tomodachi Barbara Endo Uemura, who is well known throughout Japan as an author, lecturer, and artist.
Saturday’s event will also feature members of the Japan Business Association.
Special guest performer will be professional dancer Michael Nameishi, currently a member of the Compagnie Marie Chouinard dance troupe in Montreal, Canada. Nameishi, born in Kagoshima, began training at age 17 after moving to New York City. He studied at Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School, Merce Cunningham Studio, and Springboard Danse Montreal. He received his BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College.