TICKET SALES:  805/756-2787

Cal Poly Arts Brings Taiko Drummers Direct from Japan

SAN LUIS OBISPO, –  Deep from within the mountains of Japan comes the Taiko drummers of Shidara. Blending top-notch skill, blinding energy and breakneck speed, their performances carry a rich spiritual purpose harkening back to ancient times.

Cal Poly Arts presents SHIDARA TAIKO on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 8 p.m. at the Christopher Cohan Center.

“The clarity and precision of their playing, the ferocious tempos they take…is breathtaking.  This is Taiko at the very highest level.”  (Rolling Thunder Magazine)

Founded in 1989, with strong roots in their remote Japanese village, Shidara’s drum performance carries a purity and devotion to the forest and a festival harmony between the human and spirit worlds.

In their own words: "Through our performance, we hope to bring people together, joining hands in reciprocal support while walking an essential path of mutual encouragement.

“This is much as was done at ancient festivals, where circles of human harmony were created, born of a spirit of gratitude to the earth and natural world."

Defying time and place, Shidara music captures earthy tones of long ago and thunders with new images of Japanese mountain life. Members live and train at their mountain facility in strictest traditional discipline.

Deeply entwined in the life of their village, Shidara has committed to preserving the ancient dance festivals in their region. For example, performances include a rendition of “The Hana Matsuri Festival,” a 730-year-old harvest ritual.

Since sweeping the Tokyo Taiko Championships in 2002 and enjoying the stage with Grammy and Golden Award Winner Kitaro in 2003, Shidara now tours regularly throughout Japan and Korea and has given acclaimed performances in Norway, Sweden, Martinique, and Taipei.

Thunderous standing ovations and popular audience demand during the company’s U.S. debut has led to regular North American tours since 2006.

General public tickets for the performance range from $32 to $44, with student discounts available on all seats, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. 

To order by phone, call 805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088.  Order online at www.pacslo.org.

Sponsored by American Airlines/American Eagle, with additional support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM

For more information on all Cal Poly Arts events, including audio and video samples, please visit www.calpolyarts.org.

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