Odaiko Sonora News: Fall 2007

From left: OS founders Rome & Karen pose with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka and el Señor Mysterioso (small fella in Karen’s hand); Oedo Sukeroku founding member Kobayashi sensei and Tanaka-san jam in the Marketplace; Shidara members say “see you in April ‘08, Tucson!”; Summer Taiko Institute participants at Seattle’s annual “Hiroshima to Hope” floating lantern ceremony.

Gathering at the Water

2007 marked the 10th Anniversary of the biennial North American Taiko Conference AND its first venture outside of California. The Conference can only go where there are LOTS of drums, and the Seattle area’s eight taiko groups proved up to monumental task of providing resources for nearly 700 conference participants. A highlight of the conference was the presence of two of the founding members of Oedo Sukeroku Daiko, one of the first groups dedicated to kumidaiko, or taiko as an ensemble performance art.

For Tucson’s Odaiko Sonora members, Conference is a chance to shed our relative isolation and dive into a world where everyone is crazy about taiko. This feeling culminates each conference at the post Taiko Jam concert reception, where hundreds of attendees meet to talk, eat, and then circle up, several hundred strong, to dance and chant to the beat of the taiko. We saw old friends, met new ones, and learned a thousand things about taiko and the taiko community. It helped us understand more deeply why we are devoted to this incredible art form, cultural practice, and part of history. It is our task now to bring that understanding and appreciation back to our community in southern Arizona.

Dates to Note:

Odaiko Sonora in Concert, Saturday, Sept. 22, 7:30pm
Buy tickets online at Green Valley Recreation

Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble in Concert, Monday, Oct. 22, 7:00pm
Buena Performing Arts Center, 5225 Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista
520-515-2821, http://www.buenapac.org

4th Annual SoAZ Taiko Showcase, Sunday, Dec. 9, 7:00pm
Berger Performing Arts Center

SHIDARA at the Fox Theatre! April 20, 2008
Yes, it’s true, we found the perfect venue for this outstanding group.

What's up at Odaiko Sonora SPACE

Monsoon season has rendered our swamp coolers useless, but we figure the sweat is cleansing. Otherwise, the studio continues to be one of the best things that ever happened for Odaiko Sonora. The expanding family of artists and groups that use Odaiko Sonora SPACE include Batucaxé, Funhouse Movement Theater, Flam Chen, Thom Lewis Dance, World Community of Art Theater, Ensphere, Theatrical Mime Theatre, Kimi Eisele and several professional development discussion and work groups for artists. In addition, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and yoga classes will continue through the fall. See the Odaiko Sonora SPACE page for a complete schedule.

Classes for Fall

Fall Class begin Sept 8! For a complete schedule and information on how to register, visit our classes page. Several of our classes are now offered through the PCC Community Campus Catalog and Pima County Parks & Recreation Leisure Times. Registration info may be found in their publications or posted on our classes page. If you have questions, contact karen@tucsontaiko.org, (520) 327-1228 or 481-8003.

In addition to the Qigong and Yoga sessions at SPACE, OS Wellness Coordinator Julie Baron will be teaching a 4-week Introduction to QiGong at Tucson Yoga. See http://www.tucsonyoga.com/intro-to-qigong.html for info and registration, or call 877 TUC-YOGA, (882-9642) ext. 6.

Get that pleasurable glow

Using brain scans, scientists have now proven that donating money to worthy activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure. Your support of Odaiko Sonora can provide you with that “warm glow” for years to come. It may not seem like much, but an ongoing donation of just $10 a month can help ensure the stability of Odaiko Sonora’s programs and our ability to offer space at affordable rental rates to some of the performing arts groups that make our region so special. It’s incredibly easy to sign up, and you’ll receive a monthly reminder that you’re giving to a worthy cause. Your brain will fire the pleasure centers, and, voila, you’ll have your warm glow. Contact karen@tucsontaiko.org, call (520) 327-1228 or simply go to our website and click on the “Donate Now” button at the top right of the screen. Thank you for helping us to be ambassadors of taiko in our unique and wonderful region.

Arigatou gozaimasu!