Following our usual tradition, most of Dojo’s members showed up early,
to clean the Dojo before the party.
Participation was very high this year as we scrubbed, swept, wiped and
organized. The dust bunnies and
cobwebs didn’t stand a chance, as we finished in no time. The Dojo will go into the new year as
bright and shiny as it can be.
After all the hard work, it was time to eat, drink, and be merry. Family and friends arrived and everyone
collected inside the Dojo. Sensei
and Nosuke-san called up some guest artists and a few Dojo sempai to
participate in the kagami-wari, or the ceremonial breaking open of a sake
barrel. There were a few
first-timers wielding the hammers, and a few sleeves were purified with a good
splash of sake. With the barrel
opened, everyone raised a glass for a toast to the great efforts and successes
of the past year, and to celebrate the gathering of our whole Taiko Dojo
family.
Sensei then announced that it was “time to eat!” If there is anything Dojo members like
as much as Taiko, it’s a good pot luck!
Everyone really out did themselves, bringing all sorts of tasty dishes
and yummy treats. The spread of
food and desserts was amazing.
Sensei, guests, and super-sempai led the way as we ate and drank our way
into a happy daze. It was also a
great time to catch up with old friends that we don’t see often enough, and new
friends that we just met.
This was also a good opportunity for each of Dojo’s classes to do a last
minute run through and final polishing of their contribution to the last show
of the year – the Dojo Holiday Recital.
Each class had spent weeks developing and working on a special song to
perform. Mark Siegel was our
Master of Ceremonies and introduced each group with his usual eloquent style. The show opened with our Childrens’
Class performing an enthusiastic medley of “Taiko Train” and “Matsuri” that
brought big applause and even bigger smiles. Next, was the Adult Beginners’ Class performing a spirited “Hiryu
Sandan Gaeshi”. You could see and
feel their excitement and pride as they played for friends and family. It’s always wonderful to be able to
witness and share such unabashed spirit.
The Adult Intermediate Class kept the momentum going with a rousing “Yodan”
on not one, but two full Yodan sets!
They whirled and danced their way along an impossibly complicated path
through the drums. It was
thrilling and fun to watch. Next,
it was time for a guest group to perform, and Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan stepped on to
the stage. They played one of
their original songs for the audiences’ enjoyment. Their youthful energy shined as they showed us why they will
be one of the up and coming college groups in the coming years. To follow youth with youth, Taiko
Dojo’s Rising Stars performed next.
They played their song, affectionately called “Too Many Sides”. As usual, they thrilled the audience
with their intricate movement, and ended with a crescendo of paired solos and a
cheering crowd. Then, last but not
least, it was time for Sensei, Dream Team, and the Adult Advanced Class to
perform. They started with a
thunderous “Yatai Bayashi”. That
was followed by Nosuke-san dancing his amazing “Shi Shi Mai” with Sensei on
drums. Without skipping a beat,
they transitioned immediately into the ever popular “Rokudan” with individual
solos at the end. And when Dojo
does solos…..they do solos! It was
14 solos in all, with some of the Rising Stars and Sensei himself joining
in! When the dust settled, the
crowd was cheering and asking for more. Dojo never leaves an audience wanting, so out rolled
the Odaiko and an encore of “Tsunami”.
The soloists raged, the energy built, culminating in the final pair
Hideki and Hiroki. They shook the
roof of the old building (it’s a good thing we dusted). Hiroki pushed on, and with his final
ending cue, the performers released a powerful kiai and the audience burst into
applause. Then,…….it was
over.
