Odaiko Sonora News: Late Fall 2007

From left: Odaiko Sonora performs “Asobi” at this year’s Tucson Meet Yourself; Students at DeGrazia Elementary perform an original taiko play as the culmination of a 5-week, Arizona Commission on the Arts supported residency program; El Tour de Tucson’s gala dedication dinner, with honoree Dr. Tatsuo Okada, Mayor Walkup and OS supporter Marilyn Goldstein; Finally, someone got a good shot of the redhead!

Supporting is Sporting

As you know, taiko is a performing art and cultural heritage practice. It’s also a path to wellness for mind and body, an athletic practice, and even a sport. In Japan, taiko groups are known as “teams,” underscoring the cooperation, leadership and ethical practices necessary to participate.

The sporting aspect of Odaiko Sonora’s discipline is highly evident this winter. Last week, we helped launch the 25th El Tour de Tucson, the nation’s largest perimeter bicycling event. On Dec. 2, we’ll do our annual taiko marathon, helping drum up that extra final push runners need for the last mile of the Tucson Marathon. Finally, closing out the old year and opening the new, Odaiko Sonora will help kick off the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena! Odaiko Sonora founders will serve as artistic consultants and performers in “Passport to the World’s Celebrations.” This three-minute opening celebration, produced by Up with People, will launch the Rose Parade at 8:00am, Jan. 1. We’re honored to be able to represent Tucson and our Sonoran Desert region at this nationally significant event.

And then there’s regionally significant events...

4th Southern AZ Taiko Showcase, Sun., Dec. 9, 7pm, Berger Performing Arts Center
In 2005, when Odaiko Sonora was a mere 3-years-old and the only group in the region solely dedicated to taiko, our founders conceived of an event that would celebrate the practice of taiko in our community. Thus, the Showcase was born. This concert has drawn near sell-out crowds each year since then, and featured nationally acclaimed taiko groups alongside our own local players.

Now, in 2007, the practice and appreciation of taiko in our region has grown to the point where we can offer a concert entirely comprised of regional groups! This year’s Southern AZ Taiko Showcase will feature two Tucson groups, two Phoenix groups, and will include the premieres of several original works. Odaiko Sonora will present two new songs inspired by our life and practice in the Sonoran Desert: “105 Degrees” and “Pulling Down Clouds.” The OS Community Group will present their first regionally group arrangement, “Hisakata,” which is built upon rhythms by Moko Igarashi of Tokyo.

Tickets are available at Antigone Books, 411 N. 4th Ave; Plaza Liquors, 2642 N. Campbell; Enchanted Earthworks, Plaza Palomino, Swan & Ft Lowell, or by calling toll-free 1-800-594-8499. Tickets are also available online at www.rhythmandroots.org. The price through these outlets is $20 advance ($17 for seniors and students). However, as an Odaiko Sonora e-news pal, you can get yours for $15 from an Odaiko Sonora member, or by dropping by our studio at 1013 S. Tyndall on Wednesdays between 1pm and 3:30pm, or Saturdays between 10:00am and 2:30pm. Buy ahead, because they are $23 at the door and we expect a full house!

Classes

After our Jan. 13 appearance at Family Arts Festival, we’ll kick off a new 10-week session of Adult Recreational Taiko (ART), our Taiko Youth Group (8-week, ages 12 and up), a new kids’ class (5-week, ages 8–12), and many other sessions. Visit our website and click on the “Play Taiko” link (after mid-December) to find the taiko class that’s right for you.

Arigatou gozaimasu!