2016 Regional Taiko Gathering

To all registrants, workshop leaders and volunteers: now that the dust has settled, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for helping make the 2016 Regional Taiko Gathering one to remember. We have received lots of positive feedback on what we hope was an enjoyable weekend for you. While there were hurdles to overcome, everyone pulled together to make the gathering, including the Taiko at the Rio concert, a success.

We are still acessing what went right and what could have been done better, so if you have not already done so, please share your comments, suggestions, etc with us.

In closing, we’d like to share a photo gallery with you, taken over the course of the weekend by John and his daughter Kaya. Hopefully the gallery catches the spirit of RTG 2016 – please feel free to share with others. If you would like a high resolution version of any of the photos, drop a note to john@bigwavedesign.net and we will email you the file(s). Please reference the photo number or include a low resolution copy of the photo in your email.

2016 RTG CONCERT - TAIKO AT THE RIO

Featuring

Fubuki Daiko (Winnipeg)

Vancouver Okinawa Taiko

Tiffany Tamaribuchi (Sacramento)

Sunday, August 21, 2016, 2 pm
Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC)

Tickets $20 General, $15 Seniors & Students

Online at 2016rtgconcert.eventbrite.ca or at the door (box office opens at 1 pm)
Online ticket sales will end midnight, Saturday, August 20. There will be tickets available at the Rio Theatre on Sunday. The box office opens at 1pm. The concert starts at 2pm.

For the first time, the Regional Taiko Gathering (RTG) will fill the historic Rio Theatre with thunderous and awesome sounds of the taiko. Audience members of all ages can expect an energetic, passionate, and lively performance from all three guest artists: Tiffany Tamaribuchi (Sacramento) and friends, Vancouver Okinawa Taiko and Fubuki Daiko (Winnipeg). Each offers a unique performance and distinctive drumming style. RTG 2016 is proud to present this showcase of Canadian and US Taiko.

From Winnipeg, the city of 100 languages, Fubuki Daiko reinvents traditional Japanese drumming through their eclectic and innovative performances that are 50% martial arts athleticism, 50% meditation, and 100% rhythm. For over 25 years, they have honed their skills which have allowed them to sell out festivals, concert halls, and schools across North America.

Founded in this city, our very own Vancouver Okinawa Taiko are "ambassadors" of Okinawan folk performing art. This style combines drumming and dancing with traditional as well as contemporary Okinawan music. The group is inclusive, from youth to members in their 50s. This dynamic community-based group truly represents grassroots folk art.

Tiffany Tamaribuchi is an internationally-recognized taiko master. In the traditional taiko realm of Japanese born and trained male performers, she creates a powerful new voice with her multicultural heritage and female perspective. In 2002, Tiffany won the OTA-I-KO Hibike Zenkoku Ippon-uchi (All-Japan Odaiko Competition) and was a finalist in the first Tokyo International Odaiko competition the same year. She continues to influence the lives of many through her workshops and performances.

“Tamaribuchi Sensei has a truly intelligent approach to kata”- Stanford Taiko

“Her passion for taiko was evident, and it brought out our passion”- Zenshin Daiko

The Vancouver Taiko Society is pleased to host the 2016 Regional Taiko Gathering. Held every two years, the RTG is chance for taiko groups from the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada to gather and share our love and passion for taiko. This is the third RTG to be held in Vancouver; the previous ones were held in 2002 and 2008.

The 2016 Regional Taiko Gathering will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21, 2016 at the Britannia Secondary School in Vancouver, BC. Registration includes a plenary session and the registrant's choice of up to three workshops, pending availability. Once you register, you will be able to purchase RTG t-shirts, concert and banquet tickets separately.

2016 Regional Taiko Gathering
WHEN Saturday, 20 August 2016, 9am - Sunday, 21 August 2016, 4pm
WHERE Britannia Secondary School 1001 Cotton Dr, Vancouver, BC

Registration ($180) closes Tuesday, August 2, 2016

REGISTER NOW

The registration fee includes a plenary session and the registrant's choice of up to three workshops pending availability. Workshop selection will begin mid-June and instructions will be sent to the registrant's email. Participants will be assigned to workshops in order of registration. The earlier you register, the better chance you have of receiving your workshop selections.

During the online registration, you will be able to purchase RTG t-shirts, concert and banquet tickets separately. You will be able to get your concert ticket at reduced price! If you like to order concert tickets for family and friends, please go to 2016rtgconcert.eventbrite.ca

FAQ

PARKING Free parking is available in front of the school. Turn onto Cotton Drive from Venables and you'll drive into the parking area for the school and community centre.

RTG 2016 will take place on unceded Coast Salish territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish First Nations.

The beating heart of RTG is the workshops, spread out over the two days. A number of well-respected taiko leaders and other artists will present a variety of hands-on workshops that will be of value to players of varying experience and abilities.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Workshop Leaders

Albert St. Albert (Vancouver)
Albert St. Albert Smith has been a professional musician, performer and composer for 40 years and has taught courses at SFU for the past 29 years. He is also the founding director of Simon Fraser University, Ghana Field School Arts program.

Gerardo Avila (Vancouver)
A professional solo clown, mime, magician and poet since 1974, Gerardo has been teaching mask work, physical theatre and circus arts for many years.

Masami Hanashiro (Vancouver)
One of the founding members of Vancouver Okinawa Taiko, Masami has been playing "Eisa" since 2004, promoting the Okinawan folk performing art in BC.

Noriko Kobayashi (Vancouver)
Noriko spent eight years in Tokyo studying with Oedo Sukeroku Taiko, teaching taiko to school children and adults in HanaYori Taiko.

Hiroshi Koshiyama and Naomi Guilbert (Winnipeg)
Hiroshi and Naomi founded Fubuki Daiko in Winnipeg in 1995. They received their formative training from Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka.

Jillian Masuhara (Vancouver)
Jillian is a passionate yogi, weightlifter and taiko player who loves finding ways to incorporate honest movement into everything she does.

Garrett Nakawatase and Tyrone Nakawatase (Seattle)
Tyrone and Garrett started playing taiko in 1988 and 1989 respectively, and have performed with Tsunami Taiko, One World Taiko and are currently leaders of Inochi Taiko.

Kristy Oshiro (Sacramento & San Francisco Bay Area)
A freelance taiko artist, she has performed and given taiko workshops in the US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Jason Overy (Vancouver)
A university-trained classical percussionist, Jason has been Musical Director of Uzume Taiko for over ten years, combining his lifelong love of percussion and martial arts.

Bonnie Soon (Vancouver)
Artistic Director of Uzume Taiko, Bonnie has led workshops for youth and adults in private, educational, community and conference settings.

Ringtaro Tateishi (Seattle)
Ringtaro is the cofounder of The School of Taiko and the newly formed Chikiri in Seattle. He is a very engaging performer and passionate about teaching taiko.

Tiffany Tamaribuchi (Sacramento)
Tiffany is totally TaikoBaka. She is a spirited performer and an exceptional teacher of many different aspects of taiko.

Karen Young & Lee Ann Teylan (Boston/Seattle)
Karen was a founding member of Odaiko New England and is the Founding Director of The Genki Spark, a pan-Asian women's arts and advocacy organization that uses taiko as a vehicle for building leaders committed to social change while advocating respect for all.