| Nov ’11 |
| 12 |
| 7:00 pm |
2010 Knock on Wood
Ft. Wayne Taiko invites you to our annual Knock on Wood Performance to be held at the Allen County Main Public Library Auditorium! Advance tickets are $12 Adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the Door are $15 Adults and $12 for children. Call the Dance Collective at 424-6574.
Kris with practice pad
Kris Bergstrom, of On Ensemble, developed this 30-day program to improve shime daiko skills. This program involves daily practice on shime or practice pad. It increases in difficulty and goes on for 30 days straight. We are more than halfway through and I am struggling to keep up the daily practice. Kris does support and encourage us through e -mails and videos but it is hard! Some of the drills are easy, some I am unable to do. I am grateful that the program is almost over and wondering what the goal is and how I will be better.
| Jan ’11 |
| 5 |
| 10:00 am |
The On Ensemble. Photo by Ayumi Kameda
Fort Wayne Taiko and the Fort Wayne Dance Collective are keeping the beat alive with a workshop with the On Ensemble, an LA-based taiko performance and teaching group, Wednesday, January 5.
On Ensemble, (pronounced “Ohn”) takes the ancient instruments of taiko into new realms. Infusing the powerful rhythms of ensemble Japanese drumming with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica, On Ensemble’s unique sound has been praised as “completely original and brilliantly conceived.” Modern Drummer magazine calls On Ensemble “an exciting taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums.”
Masato Baba, who was in Fort Wayne in April with TAIKOPROJECT, will be returning with On Ensemble, along with Kristofer Bergstrom, Shoji Kameda and Kelvin Underwood.
From 10 AM to 12:30 PM, particiants will explore basic slant drum form and technique with On Ensemble’s detailed exploration of the basic strike.
The afternoon workshop, from 1:30-4, will explore Bon Taiko, or Matsuri Daiko, which is one of the most fun and exciting forms of Japanese drumming. Bon Taiko Bonanza teaches an engaging solo structure including oroshi, kakegoe and the innovative “glitch ji” that can be looped repeatedly for multiple soloists.
Check out this clip of Zoku from dress rehersal on 11/19/10
WOW!!!!! What an awesome performance we gave at the Library theater. We almost sold out and the crowd loved us. Our group had such cohesion and energy and we had alot of FUN 
Tammy played the violin and Kelly joined us to do a Fire dance.
Everyone contributed their own unique abilities to make the concert exciting and powerful. We did alot of things we had not done before. We had interludes, monologues, dances and chants.
We had a great crew that helped with drums, set up and strike. Thanks to Abbey, Dave, Sadie, Eric, Alex, and Kelly for pitching in. We also want to thank all the other volunteers who we could not have had a great show without.
Now we get to start planning next years performance………
As we get ready for the Knock on Wood performance, there are many things going on. We are having extra meetings, practices and working on new songs and rearranging old ones. As anyone who has ever been involved with a performance knows, there are many behind the scenes things to do. We are working on the props to decorate the stage, coordinating volunteers to sell tickets and move drums, costumes for each song, and practice, practice, practice……..
This can be a stressful time or it can bring a cohesion to the group. And it can be a mixture of both. We draw on each other’s strengths and use that to our advantage. Where one person is weaker, usually someone else can step in and take up the slack. That is what makes a group stronger. It is also a gift in our group that it is a collaborative effort to put this show together. Each one of us contributes what we are comfortable with and we all take a risk to do a little something out of our comfort zone. After all, taiko is a way of life that stretches our bodymind and helps us grow.
I hope you all come to witness our next Knock on Wood at the Fort Wayne Allen County Public Library, Main Branch Theatre, Saturday, November 20 @ 7 p.m. It will be a great show!!!!!
Kiai is a shout used to channel energy and encourage other performers.
Fort Wayne Taiko recently performed at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis and the Taste of the Arts in downtown Fort Wayne. Our next performance is Saturday, September 12 at the West Central Neighborhood gathering at 12noon.
We performed Yamabiko using a lot more kiai and more drummer interaction. The crowd loved it…and we had a great time playing it for them. Both performances were full of energy from kiai that drew in the crowds as well as the drummers and made it alot of fun for everyone.
We look forward to Knock on Wood, November 20 at 7pm to continue finding our voices as Ft. Wayne Taiko drummers.
