Move · Videos · Dance · 4 min

Tanko Bushi: Japanese Bon Odori Dance Lesson

Video by Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia on YouTube · Open on YouTube

A short, gentle lesson in Tanko Bushi, a community Bon Odori dance from Fukuoka, Japan: clap in rhythm, dig to each side, reach over each shoulder, step back and push forward, then dance it all to the music. Easy for any age.

  • 4 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

Step by step 4

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Clap in rhythm three times, then dig the right foot out twice and the left twice. 0:11
  2. Reach over the right shoulder, then the left; step back left, then right, and push forward twice. 0:21
  3. Open the arms wide and clap in rhythm again to restart the pattern. 0:35
  4. Dance the whole pattern to the music, repeating it. 1:03

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Clap in rhythm three times, then dig right twice and left twice
  • Finish the pattern by opening your arms and clapping again

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movesdigging and shoulder-reach arm movements
  • Hips movessteps back and forward
  • Knees movesstepping back and pushing forward
  • Ankles & feet movesfoot taps to each side, stepping

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. This video was harder to rate from its talk and pictures, so treat it as a rougher guide. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety