Spending summer nights in cool ways Photo: Yuta. K Start of Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018 Fumiko Hayashi Mayor of Yokohama Using the city of Yokohama as its stage, Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018, one of Japan’s biggest dance festivals, is about to begin. Once every three years, the streets of Yokohama come alive with dancing. The festival was first held in 2012, and has been attracting more and more participants with each installment. Running for 58 days from August 4 to September 30 this year as well, the festival will feature a remarkable total of about 200 dance programs of all genres, including ballet, contemporary dance, street dance, social dancing, cheer dance, hula, and even traditional Japanese buyo. It will open with Yokohama Bayside Ballet, a program performed on an outdoor stage against the background of beautifully illuminated buildings in the Port of Yokohama, and include numerous performances by top-ranked artists from inside and outside Japan that are not to be missed. This year marks the 160th anniversary of Japan-France diplomatic relations, and there will also be programs linked with a dance festival in the French city of Lyon, one of Yokohama’s sister cities. Unfolding on the city streets, Yokohama Dance Paradise is one of the hallmark programs of Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA, and allows anyone to casually join in and experience the joys of dance. In addition, there will be workshops in which children can learn how to dance from professional dancers. Dance is an art of communication with the power to cross all sorts of borders, such as nationality, gender, generation, and presence or absence of disabilities. Whether they are dance fans or completely new to dance, I urge all people to see, dance in, and revel in all the fun of this dance festival, which could only be experienced in Yokohama. Spending summer nights in cool ways Zoos ordinarily not visited at night will be open to the public Yokohama Zoo at Night 【Time】 Saturdays & Sundays in August, until 8:30 p.m. 【Place】 Yokohama Zoological Gardens “Zoorasia,” Nogeyama Zoological Gardens, and Kanazawa Zoological Gardens Participants can observe the ecology of animals that could only be witnessed at night, such as the lively activity of nocturnal animals and the sleeping figures of diurnal animals, and have fun at a zoo in a different way from daytime visits. The zoos will also be decorated with lovely illumination. Cool B-Zoo Implemented at the three zoos Misting equipment has been installed in the zoos to make the air cooler for visitors. Yokohama Zoological Gardens “Zoorasia” Last admission time: 7:00 p.m. 【Admission fee】 Adults – 800 yen　　 Tel: 045-959-1000 ■ Zoorasia Night Market Taking the Lantern Festival in Vietnam’s Hoi An as its theme this year, the zoo will be colorfully decorated. The Market will also offer plenty of delicious Asian cuisine and gift items. Saturdays and Sundays in August, 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. Giraffe Colors against the night sky at Zoorasia Night Market (conceptual depiction) Nogeyama Zoological Gardens Last admission time: 8:00 p.m. 【Admission fee】 Free 　　Tel: 045-231-1307 ■ Garden Live Live musical concerts at Hidamari Square. Saturdays in August and August 12 (Sun.) About 30 minutes per concert, 1) beginning at 6:00 p.m. 2) beginning at 7:00 p.m. ■ Animal guides Members of the zookeeping staff will serve as animal guides. Take this opportunity to ask them about the secrets of animals you’ve been wondering about. Saturdays and Sundays in August 1) beginning at 6:30 p.m. 2) beginning at 7:30 p.m. Humboldt penguin Southern tamandua Kanazawa Zoological Gardens Last admission time: 7:30 p.m. 【Admission fee】 Adults – 500 yen　　 Tel: 045-783-9100 ■ Mushi, Mushi, Kabutomushi! Exhibit The zoo will exhibit beetles from other countries and open a limited-term zone where Japanese beetles are kept outside cages. Until August 26 (Sun.) ■ Children’s Festival The Festival offers programs even small children will enjoy, such as a workshop for making animal masks. August 11 (holiday) and 12 (Sun.), 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern gray kangaroo Night Kanazawa Illumination よこはまのどうぶつえん　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】Zoo Division, Environmental Planning Bureau Tel: 045-671-4124　　Fax: 045-633-9171 Feel the refreshing breeze from the sea Minato Mirai Bon Dance 【Time】 August 17 (Fri.) & 18 (Sat.), 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. 【Place】 Rinko Park In this Bon Dance centered around a real yagura tower, anyone can freely join in. The event also features a traditional Japanese-style fair with goldfish-scooping, yo-yo fishing, and other games, plus plenty of other attractions such as stalls selling dishes of local Yokohama cuisine. みなとみらい大盆踊り　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Pacifico Yokohama Tel: 045-221-2155　　 Fax: 045-681-3735 Odori Park Summer Evening Garden Festival & Yokohama Moshissoyo! 2018 The scene at a stage event in the past 【Time】 August 15 (Wed.) – 17 (Fri.), 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. 【Place】Odori Park In this event, visitors will be able to buy specialty products from Japan’s Tohoku region and savor food favorites from Japan, Korea, and other countries. And on the stage, they can see rousing performances by Korean artists and dancing linked with Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018. 納涼ガーデンまつり 2018　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Secretariat Tel: 045-232-4924　　 Fax: 045-681-3735 Let’s dance in Yokohama this summer Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018 Yokohama Dance Paradise August 11 (holiday) – September 30 (Sun.) This is one of the biggest dance festivals in all Japan, held in Yokohama once every three years. Discover the allure of dance in Yokohama this summer! Free viewing Here we introduce participation-oriented dance events in which members of the general public can watch performances of all types of dance, free of charge. They are golden opportunities for coming into contact with diverse dancing of all genres. Each venue will have a space where Ryohei Kondo, leader of the Condors who also serves as the festival director, will teach “Red Shoes,” an original dance that he choreographed. You are invited to join the dance, in preparation for the Finale on September 30. Let’s all come together for the Finale! Let’s all dance “Red Shoes”! Yokohama Dance Paradise Finale Special Program The big Finale event will come on September 30, the last day of Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018. It will bring together dancers who participated in Dance Paradise and audience members to all dance in “Red Shoes,” an original dance piece. Anyone can take part after learning the steps at the various venues and mastering the choreography shown in the motion video distributed! Kintaro Participate in the Finale Special Program! 【Time】 September 30 (Sun.) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. 【Place】 Art Plaza, Grand Mall Park (in front of the Yokohama Museum of Art) See the Red Shoes motion video here Let’s all dance together! Ryohei Kondo I created original music and an original dance taking the children’s song “Akai Kutsu” (“Red Shoes”) as the underlying motif. I earnestly hope that this “gift of dance” will reach all of you, so that you can better enjoy this year’s Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018, too. Yokohama Dance Paradise — List of Venues *All programs will be staged in the p.m. For details, see the website or contact the personnel in charge. Date Venue Description August 11 (holiday) Festival Court, 1F, Gate Plaza, Tamaplaza Terrace All-genre dance The pedestrian deck near the East Exit of Totsuka Station All-genre dance August 12 (Sun.) Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama Bayside Paris Match & Yo Nakamura August 15 (Wed.) The plaza fronting the East Gate, outside Nissan Stadium African dance August 16 (Thurs.) & 17 (Fri.) Odori Park Coordination: Summer Evening Garden Festival & Yokohama Moshissoyo! 2018 August 18 (Sat.) Sakata Seed Garden Square, 1F, Landmark Plaza s**t kingz ①　 Pocari Gachi Dance @ YOKOHAMA Motomachi Shopping Street Folklore dance August 25 (Sat.) Sakata Seed Garden Square, 1F, Landmark Plaza All-genre dance Motomachi Shopping Street All-genre dance Yoshidamachi Hondori Coordination: Yoshidamachi Beer Garden — Yokohama Pole Dance Battle in Yoshidamachi August 26 (Sun.) Queen’s Circle, Queen’s Square Yokohama Coordination: BATTLE DELIGHT -ALL STYLE SOLO BATTLE- ② September 1 (Sat.) Queen’s Park, Queen’s Square Yokohama / Art Plaza, Grand Mall Park / Plaza, Pacifico Yokohama Coordination: Hamakoi 2018 Sakata Seed Garden Square, 1F, Landmark Plaza Cheer dance Plaza fronting Sotetsu Life Izumino, Izumino Station Coordination: Izumino Marche + 2018 September 8 (Sat.) Isezaki Mall 1st and 2nd St. All-genre dance Marinard Plaza, Kannai Marinard Underground Mall All-genre dance Bashamichi Plaza, Bashamichi Shopping Avenue All-genre dance September 15 (Sat.) Yamashita Park All-genre dance September 16 (Sun.) Sakata Seed Garden Square, 1F, Landmark Plaza / Art Plaza, Grand Mall Park Coordination: Precure 15th anniversary program — Special dance ③ September 17 (holiday) Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal Guest dancer September 22 (Sat.) Shintoshi Plaza (in front of the front entrance, B2, Sogo Yokohama) All-genre dance LaLaport Yokohama Pop idol September 23 (holiday) Queen’s Circle, Queen’s Square Yokohama Shaun the Sheep ④, Ferris University September 24 (holiday) Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery OSK Nippon Revue⑤, Ferris University September 30 (Sun.) Queen’s Circle, Queen’s Square Yokohama / Queen’s Park, Queen’s Square Yokohama Coordination: Yokohama University Festival 2018 The plaza fronting JR Sakuragicho Station All-genre dance Grand Galleria, 1F, MARK IS minatomirai All-genre dance Sakata Seed Garden Square, 1F, Landmark Plaza All-genre dance Mirai Tube, concourse outside the ticket gate of Minatomirai Station All-genre dance Circle Plaza, Grand Mall Park All-genre dance Art Plaza, Grand Mall Park Finale Special Program ①　s**t kingz ②　BATTLE DELIGHT -ALL STYLE SOLO BATTLE- ③　Precure — 15th anniversary program Special dance　© ABC-A, Toei Animation ④　Shaun the Sheep (conceptual depiction) ⑤　OSK Nippon Revue (conceptual depiction) DDD横浜　Search 【Contact for information on Yokohama Dance Paradise】Executive Secretariat Tel: 045-323-9351　　 Fax: 045-323-9352 【Contact for information on Dance Dance Dance @ YOKOHAMA 2018】Executive Committee Tel: 045-663-1365　　 Fax: 045-663-1928