Taiko Troupe Performs At East 4th Street Community Garden Sunday

Come hear students from the Brooklyn-based Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center perform this Sunday afternoon at 12:30pm at the East Fourth Street Community Garden

Taiko is a living folk art with roots in classical traditions. The music and associated choreography have evolved to be used in many forms ranging from grassroots community celebrations to sophisticated jazz compositions. In Japan, many local festivals have featured taiko for generations. These performances can serve as a profound means for building energy, unifying groups of people, and inspiring individuals to push their own limits in creating something greater for a community.

The program will feature five songs, including “Chakuto,” “Together Alone,” “Miyake,” and “Yatai Bayashi,” performed by The KWTC Ensemble players: Catherine Olsson, Noah Boettcher, Rachel Daddino, Rassi, Richie Arbas, and Tama Boettcher.

The Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center preserves, teaches, and promotes various styles of taiko and fue (Japanese bamboo flutes), disseminates Japanese music and culture among students, and fosters a community among taiko players, musicians, and others.

Its founder, Kaoru Watanabe, studied in Japan and has performed in every prefecture in Japan and in venues across the world, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center students perform Sunday, September 13 at 12:30pm at the East Fourth Street Community Garden, on E. 4th Street between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway.