the beginning of a new style of , called "creative " or "club team ," which holds many distinctions from traditional forms of . Whereas traditionally groups consist of people from a village or community due to the sacredness of the activity in honoring the ancestors of a specific community, creative teams are usually independent of local communities, and admit anyone regardless of their heritage. Creative is characterized largely by its song selection, with groups usually choosing to dance to newer songs, rather than the traditional standards. Hidekatsu, a Taketomi-born Ryukyu music artist, has become one of the most popular artists that creative groups dance to. His hit song, , has become one of the most frequently performed creative dances. Hidekatsu is unique in that his songs are almost entirely sung in the Ryukyuan languages, which is a marked departure from most modern day Ryukyu pop singers, who sing primarily in Japanese, making Hidekatsu's music a vital link for young modern Ryukyuans to the languages of their ancestors, who otherwise receive little exposure to the languages. All of the Ryukyu languages are endangered due to over a century of social and political prejudice against the Ryukyu languages by the Japanese government. Some examples of creative clubs include and (based in Hawaiʻi). , formed in 1982, was one of the first creative clubs, and has since expanded to form chapters in mainland Japan, Hawaiʻi, the mainland United States, and other locations with Okinawan populations. Whereas traditionally men would dance utilizing drums, while women would dance drumless, creative features many females who choose to dance with drums. In addition to having the freedom of dancing to new songs, creative groups often create their own choreographies, typically using elements of traditional and karate. Since its formation, creative has become hugely popular in Okinawa, and has also been exported to the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands, Yoron Island (1992) Okinoerabu Island (1993), Kagoshima Prefecture, and to the Kantō and Kansai regions, where people of Okinawan descent concentrated. Creative has also been exported internationally to virtually anywhere with sizeable Okinawan populations, such as Hawaiʻi, the continental United States, and South America. For many young Ryukyuans in the 21st century, creative has become an integral part of their cultural identity, providing a vital link between tradition and modern creativity. One consequence of the rise of creative is a crisis in authenticity. In response, youth associations increasingly see