Vancouver Taiko Society is pleased to present an evening concert of new work by seven local taiko groups: Chibi Taiko, Dahaza, Katari Taiko, Onibana Taiko, Sansho Daiko, Sawagi Taiko and Vancouver Okinawa Taiko at Performance Works on Granville Island on Sunday evening, November 3.

Echoes: Celebrating 45 years of Taiko in Canada acknowledges and celebrates the deep roots of taiko in Vancouver, the birthplace of taiko in Canada and will honour our Japanese Canadian history of struggle, resilience, social activism and joy.

With support from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Community Fund, seven commissioned taiko works, each created and developed by a local taiko group, will reflect upon the diversity of taiko that has flourished in Vancouver since taking root in 1979 at Oppenheimer Park in Paueru Gai, the home of the legendary Asahi baseball team.

Just as the Asahi provided a point of pride for the pre-war JC community, Katari Taiko and all the groups that came after provided a soundtrack for the community resurgence following the 1977 Japanese Canadian Centennial.

Taiko has grown and flourished in Vancouver, becoming a diverse, socially-engaged and intertwined community, with strong representation from children to seniors, from all genders and identities including 2SLGBTQAI+ and different heritages.

According to taiko leaders from across Canada and the US, Vancouver’s taiko community is unusually cohesive, with VTS providing an umbrella for collaborative ventures by local groups. For this concert, over 60 taiko drummers and performers are gathering to present and share their music.

The new works will express creative renewal, our shared legacies and dreams for the future. We acknowledge our wartime relatives that worked together to rebuild community in ghost towns and empty fields, living in exile but always in hope.

This raw spirit of the taiko –choreographed drumbeats played with heart and purpose – honours our ancestors, a reminder of the ceremonial roots of the taiko form.

Come celebrate with us on November 3^rd at the warm and friendly Performance Works on Granville Island. This will be a relaxed performance. Pauses between each set will enable the performers to move on and off stage with ease and for audience members to stretch, get a beverage or snack or read a complimentary, commemorative program.

 

About the Taiko Groups:

Chibi Taiko – “Chibi” means "little kids". The group was founded in 1993 with a goal to train the next generation of taiko players equipped with an excellent level of musicality and technical skill. The current membership of 17 varies in age from 9 to 36 years. Its performances reflect the group's unique demographics and versatility as a taiko music ensemble, from hardcore drumming to lyrical and playful compositions.

Dahaza (Pounding Waves Group) was founded in 2018 in Vancouver out of a desire to have a group of musicians who play Japanese instruments. The mindset of being open and fostering a relationship with Japan is very important in this group.

Katari Taiko (Talking Drums) is Canada's first taiko ensemble. Now in its 43rd year, this exhilarating, intergenerational and multi-cultural percussion collective continues to pursue "a way to summon music from thunder." Rooted in the Japanese Canadian experience, it bridges cultures through athletic, powerful, and graceful performance that is both music and dance. Let the drums talk.

Onibana Taiko are veterans of Vancouver's Taiko community whose performance of original material draw from Japanese folks rituals such as minyo and matsuri, all with a touch of punk aesthetics. We allow audience members to commune with our ancestors via obon dance, song, sensu (fan) cheerleading, fue, shamisen and kick-ass taiko.

Sansho Daiko creates an ever-evolving contemporary repertoire for the taiko. Incorporating western instruments and mask-work, the group creates a performance experience that crosses ethnic and cultural boundaries. Like the plant it was named after, Sansho seeks to be a spicy addition to the west coast taiko scene.

Sawagi Taiko is a multi-generational group of women of East Asian heritage, brought together by their shared passion for the Japanese drum. With thunderous drum beats, stirring vocals, and martial-arts inspired choreography, the members share the empowerment and exhilaration they feel through taiko with diverse audiences.

Vancouver Okinawa Taiko has been performing in numerous festivals, charity functions and anniversary events for just about two decades. The group's aim is to promote and preserve Okinawan style drumdancing Eisa, and to share Okinawan cultural heritage. We hope to deliver the Okinawan spirit through the beat of our drums and harmonies of our dance.