San José TaikO 50th Anniversary concert press kit
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Talking points:
1. San José Taiko (SJT) has captivated global audiences and critics alike with the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of taiko, the Japanese drum for 50 years.
2. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, company performers express the beauty and harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko as they strive to connect people through cultural understanding, creative expression, and rhythmic heartbeat.
3. San José Taiko was founded in 1973 by young by Asian American activists searching for cultural identity, their original music reflects a mosaic of influences, representative of the diverse voices/experiences of many generations of performers.
4. San José Taiko is a world-class ensemble, performing extensively both nationally and internationally, reaching more than 55,000 audience members each year.
5. As part of a global arts community San José Taiko works with world renown artists to create a contemporary voice of Asian America. San José Taiko has broadened and embellished this historical art form into a distinct performance style that blends the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming and is often described as “dancing with drums.”
6. San José Taiko performers use the power and beauty of taiko to transcend cultural barriers and foster a greater understanding of Japanese American culture.
7. San José Taiko is acknowledged as one of the premier taiko ensembles in the world, whose artistry, philosophy, and unique organizational structure are studied and emulated by many arts groups throughout the U.S. and Japan.
8. San José Taiko has been a significant influencer in the development of the art form of taiko in North America and around the world; a leader in helping to form, nurture and develop the taiko community.
9. One of the first ensembles in the taiko genre to integrate movement & choreography as a contemporary expression of a traditional style.