A Kanagawa Shimbun (newspaper) reporter came to a Bon Odori dance practice a few weeks ago and was kind enough to ask me a few questions about Japanese dance. I figured this was the time to pull out all the stops and go overboard on the cheese, so when he asked what drew me to Awa Odori I said, “Last summer when I saw the Chidori-ren float and dance, it was the happiest moment of my summer. When they told us we would be allowed to dance with them, that was the happiest moment of this summer.” Sadly, that excellent quote did not make it to the final article, which came out in the Kanagawa Shimbun and appears below with a translation. I took the liberty of bolding the Japanese paragraph about me. 😀
夏の風物詩の盆踊り大会が各地で行われる中、米海軍厚木基地（大和、綾瀬市）でも、８月14日に開かれる盆踊りイベント「アメリカンフェスティバル盆踊り２０１０」に向けた準備が進んでいる。「盆ダンサー」を目指し、同基地内の婦人会のメンバーたちの練習に熱が入っている。
同基地では、地域交流を図るため、毎年、盆踊りイベントを開催。婦人会メンバーも地域住民らと浴衣を身にまとって踊り、お祭りムードを盛り上げている。
現在、婦人会のメンバーたちは、「大和民踊協会」から講師を招き、週に１回、「大大和音頭」や「東京音頭」などの練習に取り組んでいる。リズムに合わせた軽快な足取りや身のこなしは、講師の浜田久江さん（66）も、「練習熱心で、日本人以上に上手な人もいる」と太鼓判を押す。
昨年から踊りを練習しているマリー・クルーガーさん（26）は「日本の女の子たちとも知り合う良い機会になるし、文化を知ることもできる。ことしも楽しみ」と笑顔で話している。
開場時間は正午～午後９時。雨天の場合は、15日に順延。問い合わせは、同基地渉外部電話０４６７（７８）２６６４。
Go for the Bon-Odori Dancers, the ladies on Atsugi Base dedicated to Bon-Odori practice
Kanagawa Shimbun
Bon-Odori Festivals, one of the summer traditions, have been held all over Japan. U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi Kichi (Ayase, Yamato) has been preparing for “American Festival & Bon-Odori Festival 2010” which will be held on August 14th. The members of the spouses’ associations have been practicing very hard to perform as “Bon-Odori dancers”.
Atsugi Base holds Bon-Odori event every year to promote good relationship with local community. The members of the spouses’ associations also wear yukata and dance together with local residents and set the mood for the festival.
The ladies invite instructors from Yamato Minyo-kyokai Association and practice once a week with “Dai-yamato Ondo”, “Tokyo Ondo” and other dances. They dance with light steps and graceful movements of arms. The ladies dance very well and the instructors believe they will perform excellently. Chief instructor, Ms Hisae Hamada (66), says “They have been practicing very hard and some of them dance even better than Japanese people.”
Ms Mari Krueger (26) who has been a Bon-Odori Dancer since last year said with smile “This is a great opportunity for us to get to know Japanese girls. We can also learn (Japanese) culture. I am so excited (to perform) this year too.”
The base opens from twelve noon till nine at night. In case of rain, the festival will be postponed to the 15th. For more information, please contact at 0467-78-2664 (Host Nation Relations Office, NAF Atsugi)
[Translated by Sumie Maruyama , NAF Atsugi, HNRO]