Portland Taiko at the Newmark

You may have seen Portland Taiko perform at festivals and or other celebrations throughout Portland over its close to 15 year history. But, you can't say you've truly experienced their work until you attend one of their mainstage shows. The big (and little) drums will be booming at the Newmark Theatre this weekend with a new show, "In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors." (Friday and Saturday at 8:00, Sunday at 2:00, with a special children's matinee on Saturday at 2:00). The program was developed in collaboration with Shohei Kikuchi, Japan's leading folk dance teacher, performer and choreographer. In recent years, Portland Taiko has been incorporating more dance and theater into their works--this performance also uses some video. The Newmark venue makes it easier to appreciate the complexities and nuances of the art form, beyond the visceral experience of loud drums. Full disclosure: I've been working on grants for the company for years and had the privilege of contributing program notes for this show.