bugaku

[boo-gah-koo]

noun

1. a classical Japanese dance of Chinese origin, originally designed as entertainment for the imperial palace: performed exclusively by men, who serve as both dancers and musicians.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugaku¹

< Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese wǔ dance + yuè music; gagaku

Example Sentences

Abarca-Mitchell was the first Black prima ballerina for a major company, performing works like Balanchine’s “Agon” and “Bugaku” and William Dollar’s “Le Combat” to raves.

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Balanchine supported the enterprise by giving his ballets gratis, including Agon, Concerto Barocco, Prodigal Son and Bugaku.

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Today, the older participants of the Dainichido Bugaku festival are working hard to educate young people about the traditions.

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Three years after that earthquake, the orchestra makes its United States debut under the direction of Eiji Oue in a program that includes Stravinsky’s seismic “Rite of Spring” as well as two works by the Japanese composers Toshiro Mayuzumi’s “Bugaku” and Kiyoshige Koyama’s “Kobiki-Uta.”

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Then halfway through this opening paragraph, she writes that “ ‘Bugaku’ is unusual for its expression of sexual violence.”

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