Emeryville Taiko July Performances

Saturday, July 25
Join us for International Night at Prewett Park in Antioch, sponsored by Give Always to Others & Co. Free and open to the public; we will open the event with a performance at 7pm.

Sunday, August 9
Concord Japanese American Summer Festival

Sunday, September 13
Solano Stroll

Sunday, September 20
Oakland Athletics Japanese Heritage Day (new date)

September 26 and 27
San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival

October 2 - 4
Meigetsu Festival

Saturday, October 10
Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk

On June 6th we performed at West Oakland's Green Scene at the Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. We returned to the Marin Art Festival, a perennial favorite, on June 20th as the opening attraction. We gathered the audience with a nebuta-style procession through the grounds.

A Dojo to Treasure
After nearly a year of uncertainty about where our next class would be held, we're very grateful to have a new, secure location for our dojo at the Emery Secondary School. In the last four years, we've had as many different practice locations. We're fortunate to now have a place we can call home.

“Dojo" is a Japanese word that translates as “place of the way," a hall dedicated to the study of a discipline. The meaning implies that the dojo is not only a place to learn skills, but it also has a spiritual connotation: participation in a dojo can be a path to self-cultivation or even enlightenment.

Our traditions support the view that the dojo is more than just a building. When we enter the dojo, we bow. The act of lowering one's head in a bow shows respect for the space as a special place of learning. As we enter, we are acknowledging our commitment to put aside the concerns of our everyday lives, to give ourselves over to our teacher for a period of time and to do our best. When we leave, we bow again in deference and gratitude for the privilege of having a place to learn and grow.

There are other traditions in the dojo that show our regard for the space. We arrive early to clean before class. We remove our shoes before we step onto the practice mat. We do not eat in the dojo (except for special occasions). We are conscious of our body posture while in the dojo: we don't slouch against a wall, lie on the floor, or have our hands in our pockets; we stand alert and ready to work. There are certain ways we sit in the dojo-such as kneeling or with legs crossed-that show our respect and our eagerness to listen and be taught.

Finding a suitable practice space is a challenge for taiko groups the world over. Nobody wants a loud drumming ensemble as a neighbor! Taiko groups have been known to practice wherever they can, often in schools or Buddhist temples, but sometimes in barns or parking lots. Our new dojo in the former metal shop of the school may not be the most beautiful space-it's rough, dusty, and has its quirks-but it's ours. Bit by bit we are making it our own by assembling our mats, painting, decorating, and cleaning. Having a place to call home allows us to learn, build our community, and practice our art, and for that we are most thankful!

Welcome new students
We would like to welcome our new students to the Beginning 1 classes: Daniela and Jennifer.

Class Schedule
We are back to a full schedule of classes at our new home!

Beginning 1 classes: Thursdays 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays 2pm to 4pm
New students accepted July 9th 6:30pm and July 11th 1:30pm

Beginning 2 classes: Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays 11am to 1pm
Intermediate classes: Mondays 7pm to 9pm, Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm

Classes are held at:
Emery Secondary School Shop B
1100 47th Street at San Pablo Avenue
Emeryville, CA 94608

Contact
Emeryville Taiko
1455 64th St
Emeryville, California 94608