This past weekend, San Jose Taiko performed at our first Ethnic Dance Festival ever. Everything about it was a blast!
This was the 33rd Annual EDF, spanning five weeks 750 performers, and 24 countries across six continents. I don't think anyone at SJT really knew how amazing the production was until we were involved in one ourselves.
To start, we did a 30-minute collaboration called "Synergy" with Abhinaya Dance Company last summer as part of one of their annual concerts. We took the best parts from that piece and made a 10-minute version for the EDF. We were to open the entire event, the first of 8 groups on opening weekend. We were to play a one-minute "song", followed by one minute of Abhinaya, then go into the collaboration.
The staff/crew of EDF knew what they were doing. Imagine herding and monitoring 200 performers from 9 different groups one weekend, then having to do it again with entirely different groups the next few weeks! They kept things well-oiled.
We played twice that weekend, not including the Dress rehearsal. There was a monitor in the green room where performers could watch the other performances, since we weren't allowed to go into the house and watch them during the shows. Whenever a group came off the stage and into the green room, they were always met with applause from whomever was watching the show on the monitor.
Our collaboration went really well both days. The audience *really* reacted to the piece, which I thought was excellent. The precision of classical East Indian dancing, the expertise of the orchestra (for the dancers), and the energy and power of the taiko all fit together in a really incredible experience for both us and the audience. It wasn't just some Indian dancing and some taiko drumming, it was two groups finding common ground but staying true to our values. It wasn't a fusion, it was a true collaboration.
The groups that followed were all amazing:
Shabnam Dance Company followed us, a troupe of Middle Eastern/bellydancing women who I didn't get to see a lot of because I was coming off-stage and recovering from our set. The muscle control for all their abdominal and body rolls was amazing; they would isolate sections of their torsos and *pop* them out at will. Also, incredible was the lead dancer Shabnam who stood on two overturned glass goblets and while still atop them, slid out into SPLITS. Holy crap.
Next up was African Heritage Ensemble, who was high energy from start to finish. I echoed comments from other people watching about the endurance of this group! I love the energy of African dance from what little I've seen, not to mention the expression of joy and complexity of the drumming. The men of SJT shared a dressing room with their men and we got to talk a little bit but I'd love to hear and learn more.
Ending the first half was Parangal Dance Company, a Filipino ensemble who used a few simple props to really accentuate their movements and music. One ingenious prop was a metal slab on a swing (sinalimba?) that one or two people would get on and sway back and forth, which was mesmerizing and almost impossible not to sway while watching it! There was a simple, powerful pulse to the whole piece and they arranged performers in very effective ways.
Starting the second half was Gadung Kasturi, a Balinese group who took the flow of the show in a different direction. Even with the gamelan ensemble punching up the dynamics or tempo, the dancing was serene yet purposeful and graceful.
I haven't been mentioning any of the transitions between groups, but theirs into the next was absolutely gorgeous. One dancer from their group remained on stage with a small folding fan and was joined by a female flamenco dancer. The Balinese dancer handed her fan to the Flamenco dancer before departing. Both dancers used their hands and fingers in similar ways, outstretched and expressive, and it was one of the most memorable parts of the entire show.
The flamenco group, Theatrico Flamenco of San Francisco, was the smallest group performing that night, but that didn't diminish their performance. Whereas I expected percussive stomping and fierce poses, we instead got two women dancing in a very distinct flamenco style, but with a slow, deliberate sensuality involving occasional interaction. The instrumentation was unique as well; piano, guitar, and violin aren't what I would attribute with Spanish music but it sounded authentic and beautiful. There was a last-minute male flamenco dancer added to it that I didn't get to see, but heard he was very powerful.
A great contrast to the Flamenco group was Ballet Folklorico Mexico Danza. Whereas the Flamenco were in all black against a black stage, the Folkloricos (if that's even a word) were in all white against the same stage. The Flamenco were mostly about slow smooth movements while the Folkloricos were all about beaming pleasure outwards with percussive dance. I have to admit at first I thought I wasn't going to be all that interested in this group because "oh I've seen them before." I must not have been paying attention before, because I found myself impressed and entertained quite a bit by the fast footwork, the surprisingly intricate patterns, and the fun they were having on stage.
One last group to end the show, and it was Hui Tama Nui, a Tahitian dance group that brought 80 dancers and a handful of musicians on top of that. Sure they had the big headdresses and feathered skirts at times, but they definitely had creativity and told a story while exploring both traditional and modern forms of the art. The music was pulsing, driving, rolling, and continued into the bow sequence...
We bowed in reverse order, first group on/last group to bow. So SJT and Abhinaya came out last with about 150 dancers behind us and a huge audience in front of us. It was impossible not to feel that energy going through and around us! SJT ran off through the house to the lobby, where we had positioned some taiko during intermission, and played to help lure the audience out...and the dancers! The lobby was packed with feathers and ruffles and gowns and smiles and noise and sweat, which eventually spilled out into the plaza for both shows.
I will have to say that our choreographed bow sequence sort of fell apart the first night, but with so much going on on stage by then, it was hard to tell! Still, we fixed it up and nailed it on Sunday.
It was daunting being amongst so many talented dancers, but if there's one thing we learned it's that we shouldn't sell ourselves short. We may be "drummers" but we don't stay still - choreography is movement is dance. This world of dance is unfamiliar to us but inspiring and might help push us to new heights if we keep our options open!
What will stick with me the most will be the bonding that SJT and Abhinaya went through, even with new members to the collaboration on both sides. Whether Bharatanatyam or taiko, we were all excited to be there and respected both art forms quite a bit. All of the groups at EDF were supportive and respectful and never once did I feel like we didn't belong or weren't welcomed. The term "love-fest" came up a few times. Ha!
Overall, the groups are top-notch and there's a lot of hard work to make everything flow so well. If you ever get a chance to see a performance of the EDF, I highly recommend it!
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