NEW YORK — The name Okinawa can conjure up an image of islands scattered between Japan proper and Taiwan, or a picturesque blue sea and white beaches, or U.S. military bases surrounded by protesters.

These images are all very common, but Okinawa has much more to offer, says Junko Fisher, a New York-based performer specializing in traditional dances from her native prefecture.

Since last summer, Fisher has been teaching a workshop on traditional Okinawan dance in Queens Library in New York. A rare program focusing exclusively on Okinawa's culture, it combines dance performances with talks on the prefecture's history.