“The stage explodes with energy in movement and voice, in the intense pounding of the drums and trilling of the flute. Suddenly it’s silent again… Then koto, the traditional Japanese harp. Lilting chords thread their way through the theatre, backed by a solemn slow beat on the wadaiko, the traditional drum. Then the pace lifts and a dancer enters the darkened stage, blades flashing in a whirlwind martial arts display.” ~The West Australian newspaper
Omaha Performing Arts will present TAO: Phoenix Rising, on Friday, March 7, at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater. It is the second show in the 2013-2014 Family Series.
TAO: Phoenix Rising introduces audiences to the traditional art of Japanese drumming in a very modern way. Combining Taiko drumming and martial arts, TAO is an energetic performance starting from the first beat of the drum. In addition to drums of varying shapes and sizes, Phoenix Rising will feature other instruments including the Japanese harp, the koto, and the flute.
It takes years of intensive study to become a performer in the group TAO. While some have been playing taiko drums for many years – one since elementary school, another since he was 5 years old – several performers bring nontraditional flair to the group by drawing on their diverse backgrounds: One as a hard rock musician, another a gymnast, another a composer.
Tao: Phoenix Rising
When: Friday, March 7, at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater
Tickets: Tickets start at $20, and are available at TicketOmaha.com.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Omaha Performing Arts for presenting another wonderful production, and for providing two tickets in exchange for sharing information about this show. All opinions are my own. See disclosure and privacy policy here.