Okinawa Dance Night

Every year, MCCS hosts Okinawan Dance Night at the Foster Community Center the Friday after Thanksgiving as a way to relax and unwind with the family while experiencing some local culture.

Okinawan dances are passed down from generation to generation to preserve their unique local culture from the era of the Ryukyu kingdom.

This years' program featured dances that would be seen if the dancers were entertaining for the royal court.  All dances and accompanying music are performed by local nationals who volunteer their time to share their culture with the military community.  Before each piece is performed, a brief description of the dance style and its significance is given.



Unfortunately, we were only able to stay for the first half of the event.  Hopefully we'll be able to attend next year.  :)

Futenma Shrine

Just outside of Camp Foster is our local shrine, Futenma Shrine.

It is one of the eight major Ryukyuan Temples used to worship Kumano Gongen.  It is composed of a shrine and a 280 m long  set of caves.  We did not get the opportunity to see the caves on this particular day.  However, the caves are also used as a place of prayer and worship.

You can purchase o-mikuji (random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples) and ema (small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshipers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them.) while you are there.

Proper Shrine Ettiquette:

• Behave calmly and respectfully.
• Traditionally, you are not supposed to visit a shrine if you are sick, have an open wound or are mourning because these are considered causes of impurity.
•  At the purification fountain, take one of the ladles provided, fill it with fresh water and rinse both hands making sure the water does not go back into the fountain.  Then transfer some water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit the water out beside the fountain.  Do not drink directly from the ladle or swallow the water.  Some visitors skip the mouth rinsing part of the ritual.
• At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If there is some type of gong, use it before praying in order to get the kami's attention.

1940's Swing Dance

The III MEF Band recently formed its own big band.  They debuted by hosting their very own 1940's Swing Dance at the Camp Foster Community Theater.  One of my fellow band wives was nice enough to babysit O so that I could attend.

The night was filled with the sounds of the 40's.  Couples tried their dance moves out on the floor (a swing dance workshop was held an hour before the event for those interested in learning the footwork.), the band played all the top songs, and guest singers and dancers wowed the crowd.  The local high school even provided baked goods and drinks for participants to enjoy.

The band is hoping to make this an annual event to remember.