July 25, 2003

Enjoy the heat with a Taiko beat

UCLA kyodo taiko drummer

Performers from throughout North America will gather at California State University, Sacramento from July 31- Aug. 3 for a series of workshops and performances in the Taiko art of drumming. A free concert featuring 10 Taiko groups will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 in Serna Plaza, adjacent to the University Union.

Since ancient times Taiko drumming has accompanied Japanese festival dances, religious ceremonies and warriors heading into battle as background complement. But during the last 50 years Taiko has enjoyed a new incarnation as performance art. It is now enjoyed in a wide variety of forms, from traditional Japanese folk art to contemporary multicultural inspirations.

Scheduled performers include Arashi Daiko of Montreal; Chibi Taiko of Vancouver; Maui Taiko of Maui; Mu Daiko of Minneapolis; Kenshin Taiko of Salt Lake City; Tatsumaki Taiko of San Francisco; UCLA Kyodo Taiko of Los Angeles; and Taiko Center of the Pacific Youth of Honolulu. The tenth group is still to be announced.

The concert is presented by CSUS University Union UNIQUE Productions. For more information, call (916) 278-6997. Media assistance is available by contacting the CSUS Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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