6-7 Thursday, May 25, 2017 BOUND BY DRUMBEAT Pulsating percussion, camaraderie define Big Island Taiko Festival “Be prepared to feel it in every fiber of your being. It’s big, it’s bold and it’s loud,” says University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center manager Lee Dombroksi. “This isn’t your tutu’s taiko.” Dombroski will produce the fourth Big Island Taiko Festival, two days of performances, at 7:30 p.m. June 3 and 2 p.m. June 4 at at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. The weekend of drumming and physical choreography brings together the best of Big Island taiko with presentations by Taishoji Taiko, Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko, Puna Hongwanji Taiko Club, Kona Daifukuji Taiko and Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko. Each group has its own 15- to 20-minute set, and all the groups will join together for opening and finale numbers. “People are amazed because there are so many drummers onstage playing together,” Dombroski says. “It’s really exciting.” She says the groups constantly are working on a repertoire of songs but sometimes aren’t able to play the more theatrical pieces made for the stage at outside community events. “I started this festival because I wanted to give all these taiko groups on the Big Island an opportunity to perform on a stage,” Dombroski says. “We do it every other year and it’s been really fun to watch. Over the past eight years, I’ve gotten to watch some of the keiki performers grow and become really good drummers.” Paul Sakamoto, director of the Puna Hongwanji Taiko Club, agrees. “There’s nothing like playing under the lights,” he says. “Not to take away from all the small community events we do, but to be on a stage like the one at the Performing Arts Center is a learning experience for all my kids. For a lot of them, it’s their first time doing something like that. It gives them a confidence boost in taiko but also in life. It’s invaluable.” Sakamoto says their group has never repeated the same song twice in past festivals, but this year is the first time his performers will revisit a couple of remixed “crowd favorites.” “Then, we’re also unveiling a brand new piece based on Tokyo-style taiko from the Nihon Taiko Dojo,” Sakamoto says. “This school is very distinctive in the taiko community because of their mechanics and forms. My senpai (lead student) and stage director, Fred Visaya, did a one-year college exchange program with this dojo. He composed this song, ‘Kiseki,’ as a way to share what he learned.” The song is extremely challenging for players, Sakamoto says, and he goes home from practice “sore and tired” every day. “It’s extremely fast paced with lots of choreography,” he says. “It has a powerful pulse. We’re looking forward to unveiling it.” Sakamoto, whose Puna club has drummers of all ages and experience, says he tries to encourage original composition by his older students. “Once they have learned the basic By KATIE YOUNG YAMANAKA Special to the Tribune-Herald See TAIKO Page 8 Taishoji Taiko
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