TATSU AOKI PRESENTS FRIENDS OF ASIAN IMPROV ARTS MIDWEST
CHICAGO’S ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DIASPORA VOLUME 4
FROM TRADITION TO THE FUTURE – TAIKO LEGACY
HotHouseGlobal and Asian Improv aRts Midwest proudly present a special program of the Japanese Drumming Arts organization TSUKASA TAIKO – exploring 25 years of history, legacy, aesthetics and music. Take a journey inside of the taiko art world, with rare performance footages of Tatsu Aoki and special guests from Tokyo, Chicago and other cities.
Taiko (Japanese drum), is typically heard at seasonal festivals and temples all throughout Japan. At the core of Tsukasa Taiko’s artistic and musical vernacular is a more esoteric and theatrical expression of Taiko that is a less frequented and more difficult endeavor with a speculative destination. Notable companions on this journey will include world class musicians from all over the world.
Tsukasa Taiko, one of the largest community taiko groups organized by professionals in the Midwest, offers taiko drum instruction, education, and performances. Its mission is to preserve, develop, and pass on the traditional concepts of genuine – Japanese art as a cultural legacy, and to utilize these authentic concepts in expanding and evolving the taiko art form. As a community group dedicated to understanding and strengthening New Japanese American, Asian American, and Japanese identity, it strives to respect tradition and develop artistic excellence and connoisseurship. Its director, teachers, and administrative staff are dedicated professionals, all recognized as world class, working artists. Tsukasa Taiko offers trainings, workshops, lectures, and demonstrations designed to teach how to play taiko, as well as to advance the understanding of how the cultural arts are a reflection of a community’s heritage and legacy.
Asian Improv aRts: Midwest’s Mission
Asian Improv aRts: Midwest’s mission is to build a vital, self-empowered Asian American community in the Chicago area by advancing the understanding and profile of Asian and Asian American cultures through the traditional and contemporary cultural arts. Founded to give voice to the artistic contributions of Asian American artists by addressing the ongoing need for professional opportunities for Asian American artists to develop and present works that address their communities’ experiences.