The Southern Theater and Mu Performing Arts are pleased to present... Passing the Beat
The 8th Annual Mu Daiko Student Recital
Title: Passing the Beat
What: A Mu Daiko Student Recital
When: June 29 – July 1, 2007 (Fri/Sat at 7pm; Sunday at 2pm)
Where: The Southern Theater (1420 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis)
Tickets: $13 (includes $2 Southern Theater Building Preservation Fee)
½ off for children under 12; $2 off for students & seniors
Box office: 612-340-1725
Website: www.muperformingarts.org
Email: info@muperformingarts.org
(Minneapolis ¾ June 15, 2007) Mu Performing Arts is pleased to present the 9th annual Passing The Beat: A Mu Daiko Student Recital June 29-July 1, 2007, at the Southern Theater. The concert features taiko (Japanese drumming) and blends ancient and contemporary musical styles, high-energy movement and stunning artistry in a unique and exhilarating performance.
Members of Mu Daiko, the professional taiko group of Mu Performing Arts, teach over 200 students the art of taiko each year. In this annual recital, student taiko players of all levels show what they’ve learned by performing new and classic pieces from the Mu Daiko repertoire along with their instructors. The energetic and mesmerizing experience blends physical movement, intricate drumming and rhythm in an unforgettable taiko display.
About Taiko Drumming
Taiko is the Japanese word for drum. Taiko drumming goes back to the earliest Japanese communities where it was a part of daily life and rituals. Its roots stem from the drums that priests played to banish evil spirits and farmers played to celebrate bountiful harvests. Samurai used to carry taiko into battle to bolster their courage while instilling fear in the hearts of their enemies. Taiko were also used to carry the prayers of the people to their gods. Today, taiko has become a dynamic performance art form of musical drumming and choreographed movement based upon traditional Japanese styles and techniques. The development of taiko in North America is owed largely to the efforts of one man: Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka. While taiko was originally performed by a solo male artist, contemporary taiko is performed by groups including both male and female players. It’s loud, strenuous, and pulsating with adrenaline. Rooted in the heart and spirit of Japan, taiko lives today as an evolving art form that is permeating the world.
About Mu Performing Arts
Founded in 1992 as Theater Mu, Mu Performing Arts is the foremost Asian American theater and taiko company in the Midwest. Mu Performing Arts encompasses the theatrical presentations of Theater Mu and the professional taiko (Japanese drumming) group, Mu Daiko, and remains true to the core value of giving voice to the Asian American experience. Through the transformational power of their works, Mu Performing Arts successfully merges Eastern and Western, traditional and contemporary theatrical forms.
Mu Performing Arts’ mainstage season includes three Theater Mu theatrical productions, one Mu Daiko concert, and several festivals highlighting new works, emerging directors and taiko artists. Outreach programs to schools, community organizations and corporations reach over 47,000 people annually and Mu Performing Arts offers residencies and classes to develop theater and taiko skills for adults and children in the Twin Cities.
The meaning of Mu: Our Mu (pronounced “moo”) is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese ideogram for the shaman/artist/warrior who connects the heavens and earth through the tree of life. For more information about Mu Performing Arts call 612-824-4804 or visit www.muperformingarts.org.
Southern Theater Mission and Artistic Statement
The Southern Theater cultivates artistic exploration by providing a vibrant home for performance, fostering a multiplicity of voices and catalyzing connections among artists and audience.
The Southern presents and produces performance characterized by innovation and originality. We value connections to the local community and celebrate artwork that holds potential for transformative exchange. On stage, we are unyielding in our commitment to the highest levels of professionalism and artistic integrity.
For more information on the Southern, please visit www.southerntheater.org or call 612.340.0155.
