Ryukyuan folk dancing;Dance--Japan;Festivals--Japan;Okinawa-ken (Japan)--Social life and customs;Dance for women--Japan

Audience watching the dance performances for the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami) at Shioya, Okinawa. Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "The group of men, women, and children seated or standing on the ground to watch the dances. The bamboo canes are for the flailing of heads that will not stay down in the front rows."

Two dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Dance by two women in flowered kimonos and 'fruitbasket' hats. Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "Two women shown in H130 but from back to show costumes."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "The beginning of a dance by one of the smaller groups as the women file out of the dressing room. The bamboo canes to the right are for maintaining order."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the group dances, much like that in H113. Sky is slightly overcast."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the group dances with straw sun helmets in foreground."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the group dances with dark costumes near the camera."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "The beginning of one of the group dances with the girls coming around in single file, shortest in the lead. Lead girls are the shortest, have blue and red costumes, others have various colors."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the group dances with the ''butterfly girls" and their fans in the foreground and with the last ones of the line emerging from the dressing room."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the dances of the entire group with the bright red and the mixed blue and red costumes in the foreground. Slightly overcast sky."

A group of dancers at the school grounds in Shioya, Okinawa, celebrating the Festival for the Sea God (Umigami). Description provided by photographer Roy Simonson reads: "One of the group dances with white costumes in foreground. Nearby dark kimonos were characteristic dress of Okinawan women 25 years ago."