The planning announcement and photo shoot for the Kamishichiken geisha district's "Kitano Odori" pamphlet took place on February 10, 2026, at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theater in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. This spring, performances will include a dance drama adaptation of "Cinderella," also known as the Disney film.
Kitano Odori will kick off the spring performances of each geisha district, opening on March 20 and featuring 18 geisha and maiko. The dance drama "The Princess Who Counts the Bells" reinterprets the beloved Cinderella story in Edo-period Japan, creating a performance that can be enjoyed even by those unfamiliar with classical performing arts.
The following pure dance, "Zokukyoku Wasurenagusa," is a piece that evokes the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese tatami room, aiming to preserve the folk song that has been sung in Kamishichiken for generations. The finale will be the traditional "Kamishichiken Nocturne," a spectacular performance by geisha and maiko.
For the photo shoot, the geisha and maiko were dressed in their performance costumes, deciding on poses while checking their standing positions and how to hold their fans. Maiko Ichifuku and Ichitama, who were performing for the first time, said, "We're nervous, but we'll do our best to follow in our older sisters' footsteps."
The Kitano Odori will run from March 20th to April 2nd. There will be two performances each day, at 2pm and 4:30pm. Tickets cost 6,000 yen (7,000 yen with tea ceremony). For inquiries, contact Kamishichiken Kabukai at 075-461-0148.
