Seattle Theatre Group (STG) presents TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming at The Moore Theatre on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. For the first time in Seattle, witness an evening length performance of intense muscular strength, alluring artistry and aesthetic grace that seamlessly incorporates a captivating mix of drum, dance and music - a stimulating, heart-pounding arrangement for the senses.
Making primary use of the Japanese Taiko drum, a simple traditional instrument, TAO breaks Taiko from its confines of being the "successor of Japan's traditional culture" to develop a totally new genre of entertainment. Known to have the world's greatest sound pressure, use of the Taiko drum in every TAO performance reveals infinite possibilities for dynamic, energetic and explosive drumming. Setting them apart from the numerous Japanese Taiko groups, the performance structure and production team building of TAO is distinctly their own. Combine a troupe of performers committed to undertaking hardened physical training, a highly skilled technical staff and the results are breathtaking: athletic bodies in contemporary costumes engaged innovative choreography. Forming in 1993 in Aichi prefecture in Japan, TAO set up base at a site of 40,000 square meters, surrounded by nature in a national park at Kyushu's Kuju Plateau, prided as one of Japan's most picturesque areas. While receiving inspiration from the rich natural environment, they grappled with the meaning of real music while at the same time continuing to produce new pieces. Spectators should expect the rhythm of an opera, the sophistication of a musical, and a melody that summons images of classic landscapes and other worldliness.Videos