On Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m., the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will bring the sights, sounds, and spirit of the Ryūkyū Islands to the James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr. in Torrance.
Titled “Utayabira, Wuduyabira,” which means “let’s sing, let’s dance” in Uchinaaguchi (one of the native Okinawan languages), this biennial concert is one of the only recurring events in the Los Angeles area that focuses on the performing arts of Okinawa.
“Utayabira” is also one of the rare opportunities in Los Angeles to see Ryūkyūan performing arts in a theatre setting. The opening numbers are set against a grand image of Shuri Castle – the central headquarters of the former Ryūkyū Kingdom – while other performances utilize the theatre’s beautiful lighting and backdrops.
The central instruments will be the sanshin, kutu, and deeku. The sanshin is a three-stringed lute that is commonly recognized for its snakeskin covering. The kutu (koto in Japanese) is a 13-stringed zither with a calming harp-like sound. The deeku (taiko in Japanese) are drums used in various styles of music, from classical and folk performances to the dynamic modern dances of the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko group.
The rustic tones of these ancient instruments along with the dancers’ splendid costumes perfectly capture the essence of Okinawa’s scenery: its lush forests, vast farmlands, and gorgeous blue waters.
Most traditional songs are written and sung in the indigenous Ryūkyūan languages, which have been designated as “definitely” and “severely” endangered by UNESCO. While the majority of native speakers in Okinawa are seniors, there are language revitalization efforts in and outside of Okinawa.
“Utayabira” is organized by the OAA’s Geinō-bu (Performing Arts Committee), a group that was formed by Okinawan immigrants who wished to perpetuate the traditional performing arts for future generations. Even though Okinawan performances in Los Angeles date back to the early 1900s, this official group was formed in 1987 and united over 20 groups and schools at the time.
Featuring master instructors, longtime practitioners, and students from across California, this will be Geinō-bu’s first concert since 2019.
This year also marks milestones for a number of member groups: the Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Atae no Kai dance group’s 40th anniversary and Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Los Angeles Branch’s 30th anniversary. It’s also the 85th anniversary of the Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai koto group in Okinawa (their Los Angeles branch is part of Geinō-bu).
General admission: $30. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. Ticket request: (310) 532-1929, tinyurl.com/utayabira25. If there are remaining tickets, they will be sold at the door from 1 to 2 p.m.