In my case, I was first introduced to flamenco at my friend's wedding party.  One of my colleagues, who was just a beginner, performed a flamenco recital at the party.  It was my first time to see, and I was simply mesmerized by it.  That is when an idea flashed in my mind, "It is exactly what I was looking for".  I couldn't start immediately because of my busy schedule, although I was thinking about it every day.  

After three years, finally I could start going to a flamenco studio in Tokyo and have now learned almost for 4 years.  It is actually not easy with relatively complicated steps and peculiar rhythms, but it is a lot of fun as you get to know it.

Flamenco continues to be extremely popular in Japan despite a recent decline in the number of women enrolling.  Japanese travel agencies offer flamenco tours to Spain and hundreds of women travel every year to watch and/or learn flamenco from teachers in Spain.  Along with tango, flamenco is a popular hobby among women who like the discipline required for this dance.  

The rhythm, the footwork, coordination of hand movement, and the guitar – it is simply the right fit for Japanese people despite the fact that flamenco did not originate in Japan.  While we Japanese are not generally encouraged to show our emotions and passions in public, we can do that during flamenco and that is another reason why we are so attracted to it.  (Related: Stacy Keibler)

I have found a new passion in my life since I started learning flamenco.  What started as a curiosity initially has transformed into a hobby, and maybe a lifelong passion for me.  Like a lot of other Japanese women, it has allowed me to better understand the power of emotions and how that can be expressed through a dance form.  I am learning to better express my feelings and have acquired a new perspective on the role of dance in a woman’s life.

Recommended links:  Westernization of Japan     Dances in Japan   Para para dance