Fort Wayne Taiko is an emerging group that has provided Northeast Indiana with taiko classes, workshops, lecture-demonstrations and performances since 2000. The purpose of Fort Wayne Taiko is to promote taiko drumming in this community, Indiana, and the region. We honor the tradition of taiko as we equally strive to integrate taiko with elements of modern dance and other art forms to create experimental, multimedia, multicultural performance art.
FW Taiko was inspired by the Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s presentation of Katari Taiko, a taiko group from Vancouver, Canada that taught and performed in Fort Wayne during a week-long residency in 1997. Since that time, FW Taiko has built taiko drums and horizontal, vertical and diagonal stands under the leadership of Founder/Director Allison Ballard with the help of community drummers and volunteers. In 1998, Allison attended the Taiko Conference held in Los Angeles. She studied taiko with Japanese masters at the 1999, 2006 and 2008 Taiko Camps held in California. At these events, she networked with the North American taiko community and gained knowledge and skills related to drum construction, technique, performance and teaching. Over the past six years, several other FW Taiko members have also traveled to California to study with Japanese taiko masters and FW Taiko has hosted several  residencies featuring guest taiko drummers who have taught skills and repertoire to local drummers.
FW Taiko offers weekly taiko classes held at the Fort Wayne Dance Collective, 437 E. Berry St. in Fort Wayne. Beginning Taiko is on Friday night from 3:30-4:45 p.m., and Continuing Taiko is Fridays from 4:15-5:30 p.m. This structure gives new players a chance to practice and learn with more advanced students and gives more advanced players the opportunity to continue refining technique and form as they expand repertory. Costs are $65 for a 7-week session, or $115 for a 14-week semester. For more information, email us at the “Get in Touch” option on the sidebar, or call (260) 424-6574.