San Jose Taiko Comes To The Civic Center 4/11

The powerful sounds and rhythms of Japanese taiko drumming come to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for one public performance when SAN JOSE TAIKO takes center stage on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for SAN JOSE TAIKO are on sale now at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at CivicCenter.org.

DAY DATE TIME TICKET PRICES
Sunday April 11 6:30 p.m. $15 / $20 / $30

All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $2.50

Since 1973, San Jose Taiko has been mesmerizing audiences with the powerful, spellbinding, and propulsive sounds of the taiko. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, SAN JOSE TAIKO performers express the beauty and harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko as they strive to create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music.

Under the artistic direction of Roy & PJ Hirabayashi, performance and expression are predicated upon a profound respect for each member of the group. The spirit and essence of both rehearsal and performance require physical endurance, with running and exercise required of all members during practice sessions. All compositions performed by SAN JOSE TAIKO are written or arranged by members of the group. Composing, choreographing, designing and producing costumes, and handcrafting of the drums are part of the holistic process in which all members participate. Through this singleness of mind and spirit, harmony is achieved and the music rings with unity and clarity.

SAN JOSE TAIKO has broadened this historical art form into a style that joins the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with other world rhythms, including African, Balinese, Brazilian, Latin, and jazz, bridging many styles, while still resonating with the Asian soul in America. Company members study both traditional and contemporary dance with leading choreographers, producing performances that are theatrical extravaganzas of movement and music.

Since 1987, when SAN JOSE TAIKO became one of the first American taiko ensembles invited to tour Japan, the company has collaborated in joint concerts with internationally renowned Asian performing artists including Kodo, Ondekoza, Eitetsu Hayashi, Michiko Akao, Oedo Sukeroku, Osuwa Taiko, and Miyarabi Taiko. SAN JOSE TAIKO has also collaborated with artists from other disciplines, including Brenda Wong Aoki, Mark Izu, Kenny Endo, Eth-Noh-Tec, American Conservatory Theater, George Coates Performance Works, San Jose Repertory Theatre, The San Jose Museum of Art, Abhinaya Dance Company, Hiroshima, Jon Jang, Keith Terry and Crosspulse, Anthony Brown, Marco Lienhard, Qi-Chao Liu, PressGang, and Michael Sasaki.

SAN JOSE TAIKO has been recognized for its artistic and managerial excellence by the Advancement Program from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Multicultural Advancement Program from the California Arts Council, Meet The Composer International Creative Collaborations, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the Chevron Award for Excellence. In 1994, SAN JOSE TAIKO was honored by the Arts Council of Santa Clara County with a commendation for community leadership for its efforts to foster cultural and ethnic diversity in the arts.

This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from the Iowa Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines is a private not-for-profit corporation celebrating over 30 years of presenting the performing arts to Iowa and the surrounding states. It is the presenter of major Broadway and educational touring companies, performers and groups, and is the performing home of many local and regional groups, including the Des Moines Symphony and StageWest. All performances of the Broadway Series are supported by Willis Auto Campus. All performances at the Civic Center's Temple Theater are supported by Prairie Meadows. All performances of the Family Series are supported by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

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