Gion Kobu dancers belong to the Inoue school, which is characterized by a serene, carefully schooled expression that allows the audience freedom to interpret the emotionality of the piece. Their annual spring dance, the Miyako Odori, is held throughout the month of April and is renowned for showcasing the district’s large number of maiko apprentices.

Pontocho dancers belong to the Onoe school, a style that distinguishes itself by incorporating more modern dance elements into the expected traditional repertoire. Their annual spring dance, the Kamogawa Odori, runs from May 1st to May 24th, and has a reputation for dramatic, action-packed story plays.

Leave the heat of summer behind to step into the captivating world of geiko and maiko at the Miyako no Nigiwai. This annual performance at the historic Minamiza theater brings together dancers and musicians from every geisha district in Kyoto for a special two-day exhibition of traditional entertainment the audience will not soon forget.

The Miyako no Nigiwai Performance:
The first Miyako no Nigiwai (“Scenes of the Bustling Capital”) was held in 1994 to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of Kyoto’s founding. This was a momentous occasion, as Kyoto geiko (the word used in Kyoto for “geisha”) primarily only perform with entertainers affiliated with the same district. To this day, it remains the only annual event where you can see performers from each district on one stage together. The performance is approximately two-and-a-half hours long and is comprised of seven dances. Each of the five districts presents a piece, usually a pair or small group dance by geiko set to a classic ballad, regional folk song, or narrative stage music. Young maiko apprentices from each district then perform side-by-side, followed by a finale featuring the entire ensemble.

The Five Districts:
The ancient capital of Kyoto is home to five kagai (entertainment districts: Gion Kobu, Miyagacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken, and Gion Higashi) where the artists and entertainers known as geiko ply their trade in the arts of dance, song, music, tea ceremony, and hospitality. Approximately seventy performers from the five kagai take part in the Miyako no Nigiwai, offering viewers an incredibly rare chance to appreciate the subtle differences in their performance styles.

Gion Higashi dancers belong to the Fujima school, a broad style with minimalist movement that emphasizes the use of the folding fan. Their annual fall dance, the Gion Odori, runs from November 1st to November 10th and offers a charming collection of dance numbers joined by a selected theme.

Kamishichiken dancers belong to the Hanayagi school, which incorporates broader movements across the stage and a keen sense of rhythm with traditional refinement. Their annual spring dance, the Kitano Odori, is held from March 20th to April 2nd and often includes a story play that is more comedic or light-hearted.