•Modern Dance

Ryukyuan Dance evolved from the ceremonial and religious dances to the Okansen Odori (Crown Ship Dances), from there to commercial playhouse performances where Popular Dance (Zo Odori) was created and then moved into the post-war era. The performers of the classical style Okansen Odori (Crown Ship Dances) and the commercial playhouse performers of Zo Odori (Popular Dance) were exclusively male. However, the post-war dancing world came to be centered on women.. This period can be called the era of women dancers.
Without disregarding the ancient classical dances and with the addition of a fresh feeling, Modern Dance was created within Popular Dance (Zo Odori). In the post-war era exceptional modern dance has emerged in kind. Performing artists responded to the needs of their audience throughout the years and this continued in the post-war period.
Stimulated by contests and arts festivals sponsored by newspaper companies, dance flourished in the post-war era. Newspaper and broadcast companies encouraged the creativity and motivated pieces were thus produced.
Passing on the traditions involve more than simple adherence to it. This is because development comes about by proactively incorporating creative activities. To the extent that the classics are firmly enlivened by creative activity, the classics are passed on. Classical Dance and Modern Dance can be said to be two wheels of the same cart.
Today Classical Dance, Popular Dance, and Modern Dance --- all the genres of Ryukyuan Dance -- are being refined as stage arts and are flourishing both outside the prefecture and in international exchanges.