Classical Japanese Dance and Okinawan Dance at 1pm at the Cherry Esplanade Main Stage at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The celebration of Hanami culminates in the two-day Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival, the nation’s largest event in a public garden. Visitors of all ages can enjoy music, workshops, and crafts.

On Sunday May 20, 3-4pm, we will hold Salon Series No.43, titled Meditation in Sound and Movement. For the first time in 14 years of Salon Series, this program is presented as a workshop. Participants can choose to learn walking meditation, Shakuhachi meditation, or both. Our special guest is Ralph Samuelson, the Shakuhachi Master who has conducted meditation workshops with Shakuhachi for many years in the Zen Mountain Monastery. The Japanese bamboo flute, the shakuhachi, is associated with Zen Buddhism from 16th century Japan. Playing Honkyoku pieces is sometimes referred as Sui-zen (blowing Zen), and focuses on breath, stillness, and concentration with the mind of Za-zen (sitting Zen meditation). Breathe in, breathe out into your flute and listen to the sound. Sachiyo Ito will lead a walking meditation in the tradition of Community of Mindfulness under the teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Admission: $15, $10 for student & senior.

About our guest, RALPH SAMUELSON, Shakuhachi

Ralph Samuelson is a performer and teacher of the Japanese bamboo flute, shakuhachi.  He was trained in the classical tradition of the Kinko School under the tutelage of the late Living National Treasure Goro Yamaguchi, as well as by Shudo Yamato and Kodo Araki V. He began shakuhachi studies in 1969 as a graduate student in the World Music Program at Wesleyan University and studied traditional music in Tokyo in the 1970s under the guidance of the distinguished musicologist Fumio Koizumi.  Mr. Samuelson has performed in leading concert venues in New York, around the United States, and in Europe and Asia.  He has been presented in live radio and television broadcasts in the US and Japan and has recorded for Music of the World, Lyrichord Records, CBS Masterworks, Axiom, Tzadik, and other labels.  In 1991 and in 2008 he was the featured shakuhachi soloist in the New York City Ballet's production of Jerome Robbins' "Watermill", with music by Teiji Ito.  In spring 2011 he was an artist-in-residence at the Lou Harrison House in Joshua Tree,California; and in fall 2011 he was a guest artist at the Seoul Institute of the Arts in Korea. Since 1976 Mr. Samuelson has also worked as a foundation professional facilitating and supporting international cultural exchange, and from 1991 to 2008 he served as director of the Asian Cultural Council, a foundation supporting exchanges in the arts and humanities between the United States and Asia.

Salon Series is an ongoing series of informative and educational lectures, lecture-demonstrations and performances aimed at those who are interested in deepening their knowledge of performing arts of Japan.  The series is held on Sunday afternoons three times a year.

On Sunday June 17, 3-4pm, we will hold Salon Series No. 44, titled The Art of Walking. It will encompass various dance disciplines from Japanese classical dance and Okinawan dance to ballet and contemporary dance (Martha Graham technique) to exhibit the walk, the very basic of techniques.  It is said that it takes to 10 years to be able to walk properly in Japanese dance. There will be brief dance works from each discipline and a demonstration of walking techniques. The cultural and social meanings that affect the dance forms will be discussed. Our special guests are Marnie Thomas from Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and Wendy Whelan from New York City Ballet.

Admission: $15, $10 for student & senior.

Salon Series is an ongoing series of informative and educational lectures, lecture-demonstrations and performances aimed at those who are interested in deepening their knowledge of performing arts of Japan.  The series is held on Sunday afternoons three times a year.