Feeling my Okinawan heritage stronger in the land Down Under - Akiko Hawkins

Akiko Hawkins, the founder and president of a Perth-based Okinawan dance group TIDA. Credit: Akiko Hawkins

Get the SBS Audio app

Other ways to listen

About 20 years ago, an Okinawa-born dancer Akiko Hawkins came to Australia as a working holiday maker. After travelling around the country, she settled in the city of Perth which she had never heard of.

"I had this instant connection to Perth. I thought I had to stay here," Ms Hawkins said.

Listening to Okinawan music played by Okinawan musical instrument Sanshin in Perth was the start. Ms Hawkins started performing traditional Ryukyu dance solo and founded a dance group named TIDA in 2016, with another dancer.

Tida means the sun in Okinawan dialect in Japan.

In the audio, Ms Hawkins explains how TIDA started and talks about her life in Perth. TIDA will perform for a Lunar New Year event this month in Perth and also perform for the 10th Perth Japan Festival in Mar 23.