“TAO: Phoenix Rising” launched its coast-to-coast U.S. tour this week.
In TAO’s new show, athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive taiko drumming and innovative choreography full of extraordinary precision, energy and stamina. The stars of TAO live and train in the mountains of Japan, reaching the highest level of virtuosity after years of study.
TAO combines the traditional art of Japanese drumming with spectacular modern effects and brings nontraditional flair by drawing on members’ diverse backgrounds — one as a rock musician, another as a gymnast, and yet another as a composer. TAO offers a young and vibrantly modern take on taiko.
California stops on the tour are as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. at Van Duzer Theatre, Plaza Circle, Humboldt State University, Arcata (www.humboldt.edu/centerarts)
Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Laxon Auditorium, CSU Chico, West 1st Street and Salem Street, Chico (www.chicoperformances.com)
Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Mary Stuart Rogers Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 “I” St., Modesto (www.galloarts.org)
Sunday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael (http://marincenter.org)
Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea (www.sunsetcenter.org)
Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert (www.mccallumtheatre.com)
Thursday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. Fred Kavli Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks (www.toaks.org/cap/tickets/events/)
Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego (www.sandiegosymphony.org)
Saturday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. at Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster (www.lpac.org)
For more information, go online to www.drum-tao.com.
