Invitation Program for Expert in Performing Arts in 2025: Invitation of Students from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Surakarta

Ryukyu Buyo × Javanese Dance Workshop
Led by Associate Professor Michihiko Kakazu of the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, this exchange workshop brings together students majoring in Ryukyuan performing arts from the university and students from the Department of Dance at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Surakarta. Through demonstrations and joint rehearsals of Ryukyuan and Javanese dance, these future custodians of traditional culture will directly experience the similarities and differences in physical technique and spirituality inherent in both art forms, expanding their expressive range while learning from one another. The participants will also present their performances dressed in each other's costumes and makeup, creating an interactive experience in which the traditional dances of both regions resonate together.

Bingata Workshop
Focusing on "Bingata," a traditional Okinawan craft dating back to the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, this program includes a studio visit, workshop, and lecture that allow participants to experience Okinawa’s unique aesthetic and color sensibilities while learning about Bingata's history, production process, and the underlying meaning behind its designs. The instructor, Mr. Eiichi Shiroma—the 16th-generation head of Shiroma Bingata Studio, who trained in batik in Indonesia—will host a space for creation and learning where participants can experience the cultural connection linking Okinawa and Southeast Asia. In the workshop, the sentiment embedded in Bingata designs will intersect with the sensibilities of the Indonesian students, fostering cross-border imagination and exchange.

Ryukyu Buyo × Classical Music Lecture-Demonstration
This collaborative lecture-demonstration features Ryukyu Buyo dancer Shigeo Miyagi, Utasanshin (singing and sanshin) performer Kazuki Tamashiro, and flutist/music producer Kei Tokuchi. Through a dialogue between the gestures and musicality of Ryukyu Buyo and a different musical culture, the session explores new possibilities of expression. Combining performance with commentary, it offers an opportunity to experience new creative directions and artistic exchanges within traditional culture.

Treasures of Ryukyuan Performing Arts Program
This special program features Living National Treasure Utasanshin master Kishun Nishie and dancer Shinji Kinjo, who performed in the Ryukyu Buyo production in Indonesia. Through live performances and talks, participants will directly encounter the techniques and artistic spirit passed down through generations. This invaluable opportunity highlights the significance of preserving traditional arts while extending heartfelt encouragement to the students who represent the future of traditional culture.