Life as a geisha is tough, with a strict practice schedule even for established performers
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The geishas glide with measured steps across a wooden stage, offering a glimpse of a long-misunderstood tradition that is becoming a rare sigh…
Geishas' talents can include singing, dance and playing musical instruments such as the guitar-like shamisen
Geishas are often confused with courtesans, but in fact their work -- as trained masters of refined old artforms -- does not involve selling sex
Geishas played an important role in shaping modern Japanese culture, but that tradition is waning
The geisha industry has taken a hit as companies increasingly do business in offices rather than restaurants where the entertainers make a living
The all-woman Emei Kung Fu Girls troupe records slick videos of their skills, attracting renewed public interest in their ancient martial arts school
Chinese martial arts have long been seen as a male-dominated sphere, but a younger cohort of girls is changing the narrative
The ancient Emei kung fu school has struggled to attain the same level of fame of some other martial arts sects, like Shaolin
Duan Ruru is a founding member of the Emei Kung Fu Girls, a troupe in Emeishan, China