Toronto taiko group Nagata Shachu kick off their 19th annual season featuring a stunning new production ‘Half Cycle, Full Moon’ – directed by Nagata Shachu’s Aki Takahashi. They hope to capture something of the beauty and transience of life in this collection of 15 new works, which follow the waxing moon illuminating through its various phases in this celebration of night, light and life at Fleck Dance Theatre on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT: Nagata Shachu member since 2003 and associate artistic director Aki Takahashi states, “In many cultures, the Harvest Moon marked an occasion of particular importance in the year. In Japan, this developed into the popular tradition of Otsukimi, moon viewing, where people celebrated the moon with wine, food and poetry. It provided an opportunity both to appreciate the beauty of the moon and to reflect on the nature of life.
“‘Half Cycle, Full Moon’ is 15 new works which mirror the waxing of the moon, following the approximately 15 days of its progression from the New Moon stage up until the Full Moon. Through the various rhythms found in these works, we hope to capture something of the beauty and transience of life that one would experience at a moon viewing party. We hope to help restore the moon to its former and proper position of prominence, and that audiences will join us in celebration and be enchanted.”
CONCERT/TICKET INFO:
Online; http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=9659&festival_id=0&ref=fp

Phone; 416-973-4000, press 1.

In person; Harbourfront box office, 235 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto, ON, M5J 2G8.
ARTIST INFO: http://nagatashachu.com.
Nagata Shachu members are Kiyoshi Nagata (master soloist, taiko, shinobue/flute), Aki Takahashi (taiko, shamisen, vocals), Tony Nguyen (taiko), Kayo Homma-Komori (taiko), Jason Huang (taiko) and Naoya Kobayashi (taiko).
Recently, Nagata Shachu has toured extensively and played rare collaborations with artists including the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, world/roots ensemble DRUMHAND, Japan’s acclaimed taiko, kokyu and shinobue virtuoso Shogo Yoshii (formerly of renowned Kodo drummers) and Juno nominated Toronto Tabla Ensemble. Nagata Shachu has previously released six CDs (latest; Hymus Road, 2013) of original music, and four DVDs (latest; Toronto Taiko Tales, 2017).