<Begin Segment 21>

MN: Now, I know you, did you start teaching from 1966, dancing?

AT: Yes. Well, actually, right after I came back, '64, '65, yeah. Yeah, when I was living with my mother, we used to move all the living room furniture and stage it in that.

MN: Now, how did you get students? Did you advertise?

AT: No, not really. From word of mouth, and there were a lot of Okinawa -- most of the students were from Hawaii, so they had exposure. You know how Hawaii was more into Okinawan culture, so that's how.

MN: So you were working full time and then teaching dancing at night?

AT: Night, yeah. Or sometimes, some weekend morning, Sunday morning.

MN: Now, in southern California, how many Okinawa dance teachers are there?

AT: There's four schools here, and they have their kyoushi, us teachers there. So actually, the four different schools, Okinawan schools of dance are here in California. And that's including, yeah, from here to San Diego.

MN: And you are with the Majikina school?

AT: Majikina Honryu, yes.

MN: So your dance name is?

AT: Majikina Aiko.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.