From graceful Awa Odori dance movements to routines in kimono at a New York subway, these girls are turning heads everywhere they go.

Japanese tap dancers Miyu Ikeda and Miho Itakura, who perform as the dance unit meforyouforme, have been making news in Japan and the U.S. recently for their eye-catching performances, which combine tap dancing with traditional Japanese outfits and dance movements.

The duo first turned heads over a year ago, when they gave a number of street performances at a variety of locations around New York, tapping up a storm while dressed in traditional kimono.

The support and encouragement they received from passers-by during their overseas performances bolstered their confidence, leading them to create a YouTube channel and Facebook and Instagram accounts featuring a number of their other performances.

One of their most recent videos shows them on stage at New York’s Apollo Theatre, where they performed again in their traditional outfits, tap dancing to the sound of a mobile phone ringtone.

This performance got them into the semi-final round of Amateur Night, which will be held on 15 November.

After becoming popular with audiences in the United States, people in their home country of Japan recently sat up and took notice of the dancing duo, thanks to a new video called “Awaodori Tap“.

Awa Odori is a famous dance performed on the streets of Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku in mid-August as part of a huge dance festival which has a history that dates back to the 16th century. Distinctive costumes are worn by those performing the dance, which is accompanied by traditional music and graceful movements.

The traditional sound of a summer festival is given a boost with the addition of Miyu and Miho’s energetic tap dancing routine, creating a modern twist on tradition that some people are saying would be a perfect fit for the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

While we’ll have to wait and see whether they’ll be performing at the Olympics, meforyouforme is definitely an act to watch. Be sure to check them out on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram for more updates!

Featured image: YouTube/meforyouforme TAP
[ Read in Japanese ]