TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2020 - postponed!
Flower of Life
Saturday, June 13th at 7 p.m.
Scottsdale, Arizona – Ancient Sounds of Peace (WYVEAA ) co-produced by K2 Enterprise, presents “Ken Koshio TAIKO EXTRAVAGANZA 2020 – Flower of LIfe” taking place at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for the 6th annual show in Arizona.
Our past shows have been a huge success, reaching many local people through the message of Koshio’s Life Beats. At our most recent show, we received many comments from our audience that they felt a deep connection between the soul and energy produced throughout this masterpiece of performing art.
The theme of this year’s show is “Flower of Life”. It is one of the basic sacred geometry shapes and it symbolizes the cycle of creation and reminds us of the unity of everything: we’re all built from the same origin.
Our desire is to express the art of drum beats and the roots of our indigenous spirit are intertwined to celebrate and experience the colorful diversity of cultures and generations and to remember our life and consciousness arise from one source.
Taiko in Japanese means “drumming beats” (太鼓) and “ancient time” (太古). Since ancient times, Taiko has connected our ancestral expression from the past to the future.
Ken Koshio’s passion is to share the most rewarding experience possible and express the importance of our origin. This amazing collaboration of diverse cultures and different styles of artistic expressions will be brought to the stage in tune with the rhythms of nature within our Grand Canyon State of Arizona as the “womb” (胎内) of the earth.
This show will feature a variety of expressions, dynamics of fusion beats, music, dance, and vibrations for all generations!
Date: Saturday, June 13th
Time; 7 -9 p,m.
Location:
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Sponsers
Letter from Mr. Chiba, Consul General of Japan
Consulate General of Japan
350 south grand avenue, suite 1700
los Angeles, California 90071
Telephone (213) 617-6700
It is my pleasure to express heartfelt greetings to Ancient Sounds of Peace, Producer Ken Koshio, performers, supporters and to all gathered for Taiko Extravaganza – The Tree of Life.
Taiko embodies the heart and soul of Japan and its people and is an important element of traditional Japanese culture. The sights and sounds of taiko, a recognizable feature of Japanese and Japanese-American cultural events in the United States, serve as a successful bridge for Japan-U.S. friendship.
Mr. Koshio has helped foster understanding of Japanese culture among wide audiences through his taikoperformances, workshops and teaching. By cultivating new connections betweentaikoand other types of music and culture in Arizona, Mr. Koshio and his fellow performers have also enriched cross-cultural understanding and supported new opportunities for collaboration.
Thank you for your hard work over the years in spreading Japanese culture through the beat of taikodrums. Please accept my best wishes for a successful Taiko Extravaganza.
Akira Chiba
Consul General of Japan
Supporting Artists : Taiko Extravaganza 2019 - Migrations
 |  Ryon Polequaptewa – Hopi Vocal, Songwriter and drum Ryon is not only one of the nest Kachina Doll carvers, but writes, sings, and drums for Blu Thunder, a group of Hopi city dwellers who left their beloved homeland. The Blu Thunder singers have been singing together over a span of 10 years, and the singers never stop thanking The Creator for giving them the gift of singing and guidance in all of their endeavors. Listen to Ryon’s Grass- dance from the Blu Thunder CD. |  Derrick Suwaima Davis- Hoop Dancer A Native Arizonan from the Hopi and Choc-taw Nations, Suwaima is a performing artist – he is the only 7 time Hoop Dance World Champion! He is also the founder and Artistic Director of The Living Traditions Dance Troupe. Suwaima has traveled the world as a Cultural Ambassador, sharing his dance and his culture through programs ranging from solo performances, speaking engagements, to lavish choreographed theatrical productions. |
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 |  William Eaton designs and builds innovative guitars and stringed instruments and is a founder and Director of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, in Phoenix, AZ. A four time GRAMMY nominee Eaton has recorded 16 albums for Canyon Records and tours nationally and internationally. In 2015 he received the Arizona Governor’s Arts Award in the ‘artist’ category. Eaton has composed for and performed with the William Eaton Ensemble, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, Nebraska Chamber Orchestra |  Yumi la Rosa - Flamenco dance: Yumi la Rosa studied in Spain with well-known Flamenco artists such as Rafaela Carrasco, Juana Amaya, Belen Maya, Leonor Leal, Isabel Bayón, “La Truco”, and others. Upon returning to Phoenix, Ms. La Rosa joined Viva Flamenco directed by Lydia Torea as a company dancer, and later became a soloist with Mosaico Flamenco at Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. Ms. La Rosa was also selected as a soloist with the prestigious touring group, |
 Calo Flamenco, directed by Martin Gaxiola. She was later invited to Mexico, India and Singapore to teach Flamenco workshops and to perform. Ms. La Rosa has been teach- ing amenco for all ages throughout the valley to introduce the art of Flamenco. In 2009, she founded her own group, Yumi La Rosa Flamenco Dance and presented her very rst dance production called Mujeres at Tempe Center for the Arts. The production has been growing each year featuring invited artists from other dance in addition |  Celina Mahinalani Garza Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Spanish Celina specializes in creating meaningful connections as an Advocate & Practitioner of Wellness: Mind/Body/Spirit. She is an energetic Motivational Facilitator who integrates tradition, spirituality, holistic modalities and positivity to motivate people from the inside/out.™ She is passionate as well as specializes in: Motivational Interviewing, Personal Empowerment Coaching, Healing & Wellness, Communication, Teambuilding, Job Rea |  Singer, Dancer, Songwriter, Actor, and Percussionist Mel Bridges began his professional music career in 2001 playing for audiences stateside and internationally. Mel is a former member of The Miracles, and current member of Kawambe- Omowale African drum and Dance Theatre.A singer, actor, dancer, songwriter and percussionist. His talents have allowed him to perform with the likes of Al Green, Journey, The Chi-Lites and a host of other accomplished musicians and artists. |
 Gongmaster www.gong2heaven.com Jere Friedman is an Employee of the Universe – with full benefits! Jere is considered one of the foremost gong players and sound healers in the world. He holds a Masters’ degree in Spiritual Psychology and serves as a Soul Centered Professional Coach, a Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor, certified Breathwork Healer, and a practicing attorney. |  Dashmesh - Didgeridoo & Percussion At 29 years old, Dashmesh has already collaborated with producers and musicians of international renown such as Bill Laswell, Steve Roach and Bryon Metcalf; and he is considered one of the best didgeridoo players in the southwest. Dash’s music has been on Na- tion Public Radio and XM Satellite Radio. Through his Didgeridoo, percussion, sound design and production prowess, Dash continues to study and dedi- cate his life to the arts of healing, consciousness, and |  Alice Cooper’s Soid Rock Teen Center Hodgie Jo and FootClan - Hip Hop Dance Hodgie Jo: Director of Soid Rock Teen Center Director Alice Cooper’s Soid Rock Teen Center The Rock Teen Center inspires teens to grow through music, dance and art. We provide vocational training in sound and recording, lighting and staging, video production, as well as a computer lab and a cool, supervised facility for the teens to engage with their peers. In a time where public schools are cutting funding for empow |
 Stevie Hagel - Taiko, Drums and Percussion www.steviehagel.com Drummer, performer, and educator, Stevie started teaching music in high school. After graduating, Stevie was hired as a full-time percussion instructor at Coronado HS (2006-2007). In 2008, he began teaching at Casa Grande Union HS. The highlight of his teaching career came in April 2011, when the CG Indoor Drumline competed in WGI World Championships and placed 5th in Scholastic A Class. He has performed with numerous groups of all g |  Garrison Jones - Keyboard A native Phoenician, Garrison has studied music for most of his life. He was a piano student of Carolyn Inabinet since age 7 and was a lab monitor in her studio during high school. Garrison has also studied with Larry Loeber of the Phoenix Symphony and privately with Raul Yañez, and Andy O’Brien. He completed the music program at Scottsdale Community College and is currently a student in music education at Arizona State University where he studies piano with Walter Cosa |  Johnny Walker - Bass http://www.johnnydoesbazz.com A Berklee College of Music alum, Johnny started playing bass professionally at the age of 15, As an Ohio native, Johnny was indoctrinated early in the deep funky grooves of musical influences of the region, including The Ohio Players, Slave, Sunn, Zapp, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Lakeside, and Midnight Starr. Since Berklee, he has spent a couple of years playing on the Las Vegas Strip, with some the best musicians at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Re |
 Jin SokuShin – Shakuhachi Since 1982, Yujin has been studying Autogenic Training, Yoga, Martial Arts, Qigong, Taoism, and since 2003– Japanese Shakuhachi flute and Zen music meditation tradition. He enjoys Native American flute, Didgeridoo, Armenian Duduk, and several other woodwind and percussion instruments. Yujin has studied with Mary Lu Brandwein (2003-2006) and Masakazu Yoshizawa (2006-2007). Since 2007, he has been studying with Bill Schozan Schultz and Kaoru Kakizakai. Yujin was given |  John Paul Mendes - Taiko Drum John Paul has been a Koshio Gumi member and Ken Koshio Jakara for over 5 years. As a brass/percussionist and martial artist, he has performed with various marching and competitive band groups. He was a member of Momentum Percussion Theater in 2005-06 and a trumpet player for the Academy Drum & Bugle Corps (2007). He was also on the trumpet line for the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band (2008-09). As an apprentice of taiko drums, John Paul has performed with Ken Koshio at |  Koshio Gumi - Taiko Drum Troupe Japanese 和 taiko troupe (Danielle V. Lahm, Debbie Winslow, Sandi Saveriano, Mia Saxon, Rin Patterson, Stevie Hagle, Takuro Yamaguchi, and J.P. Mendes) are Ken Koshio’s student taiko team. Koshio Gumi means Koshio family. Their drumming is not only a performance but also about discipline under the "way of life" training. They play taiko in the Japanese spirit of WA (和)- meaning harmony, circle, and peace. They practice at WA-Konkan Dojo (和魂館道場) in downtown Phoenix, |
 |  |  Koshio Gumi - Taiko Drum Troupe Japanese 和 taiko troupe (Danielle V. Lahm, Debbie Winslow, Sandi Saveriano, Mia Saxon, Rin Patterson, Stevie Hagle, Takuro Yamaguchi, and J.P. Mendes) are Ken Koshio’s student taiko team. Koshio Gumi means Koshio family. Their drumming is not only a performance but also about discipline under the "way of life" training. They play taiko in the Japanese spirit of WA (和)- meaning harmony, circle, and peace. They practice at WA-Konkan Dojo (和魂館道場) in downtown Phoenix, |
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