In Auditorium Performance – Taiko Live: Big Sound. Big Drums. Big Life.
February 23, 2021
Show Time: 6:30 pm
Fort Wayne Taiko’s lecture-demonstration uses traditional and contemporary Taiko songs to introduce Taiko as an art form. An array of instruments are used to tell a sound story of how Taiko was born. Drills, body percussion and voice are used to explore Japanese culture, language and etiquette.
A little more about the art form…Taiko is a traditional Japanese musical tradition that means “big drum.” The large, hollow, skin-covered drums used in Taiko are played vertically, horizontally or diagonally to create a range of vibrant rhythms. But Taiko isn’t simply about sound. Its characteristic beat is achieved through choreographed arm movements, as drummers “dance” their sticks from drum to drum.
Established in 1997, Fort Wayne Taiko – a program of the Fort Wayne Dance Collective (FWDC) – is the only Taiko group in Indiana and one of few in the Midwest. Inspired by a performance by Vancouver-based Katari Taiko, their small group of volunteers built their first set of drums out of bourbon barrels bought from a Louisville distillery. As they’ve grown, they’ve remained passionate about sharing the Taiko experience with our community. Their mission is to honor the ancient tradition of Taiko with unique, multifaceted performance art.
This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Indiana Arts Commission which receives support from the State of Indiana. Additional support is provided by Arts United.
