April 05 2006

Text By Catherine Jamieson

Since ancient times the Japanese have celebrated the blooming of the cherry tree as O-hanami which means, literally, "flower viewing". There are more than 50 varieties of cherry tree in Japan, blooming from March through May, and millions of Japanese travel to famous temples and gardens to view the delicate, fragrant flowers. In fact, another type of O-hanami exists in the famous Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival which is called a Sakura Matsuri (street festival) and is the result of a gift from Japan. In 1912 the Japanese government sent thousands of cherry trees to Washington D.C. which were planted all around the Washington Tidal Basin.

Like all of Japan's ancient ceremonies and rituals, there is a subtle meaning in each movement and motion and the Cherry Blossoms Dance is about short-lived beauty which must be appreciated in its time. A reminder to "stop and smell the cherry blossoms", as it were.