Happy 5th Anniversary Video"When we think about Genki Spark we feel that warmth" - Kagemusha Taiko, Exeter, UK
"Go Genki!! yay!! you guys rock!!" - Burlington Taiko, VT "We love your passion, energy, your sparklyness from Fiona in Ireland" "Empowerment through VOICE" - Smith College "I like the way you Genki - Community, Spark it up!" - Soh Daiko, New York City "I love Genki Spark. You girls encouraged me and inspired me to do my own taiko project" - Heike, Hamburg, Germany |
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A Few of Our Favorite Videos
For more videos see our YouTube channel.
'Yukiasobi'
Women of Color Conference, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY |
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'Who am I? What am I?'
Making Women's History Conference, Simmons College, Boston, MA |
Mayuko, Lily-Nou, Kumiko, and Trisha speak about leadership
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Lisa and Kumiko introduce The Genki Spark at the UK Taiko Festival in Exeter, UK
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Founding Director Speaks at the North American Taiko ConferenceKaren speaks about Genki's founding and the power of taiko outside the dojo at the North American Taiko Conference in Las Vegas, NV.
NATC is a program of the Taiko Community Alliance. For more information please see www.TaikoCommunityAlliance.org |
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2014 World Taiko GatheringLittle Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA
Japanese American National Museum Video by Ron Boisvert from Yamanami Daiko in Riverdale, Utah ----------------------- Genki hits the west coast for the first ever World Taiko Gathering, July 17-20! TAIKOPROJECT, in association with the Japanese American National Museum, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, and the Southern California Taiko Community put on this AMAZING conference. Over 500 world taiko players attended, with over 120 groups represented. |
The Power of Being Yourself:
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Something fun .....
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The Genki Spark DebutOpening for the Boston Asian American Film Festival. Stuart Street Playhouse, Boston, MA
BAAFF/The Genki Spark segment courtesy of Xfinity TV On Demand by Comcast. |
When The Genki Spark was invited to open for the 2010 Boston Asian American Film Festival, a call for Asian women was launched. With less than 3 weeks to plan there was much work to do. The emails that zoomed around to close friends and family read something like this: "1-2 other Asian women artists needed to perform taiko for the opening of the Boston Asian American Film Festival. Don't be intimidated by the fact that taiko typically takes 3 years to learn the basics or 10 to be considered good. Everyone gets to try. Come join other Asian women to show off your strong, bold, zestful spirit. Must be able to attend two rehearsals."
Within 24 hours, not just 1-2 but nearly a dozen Asian women had courageously stepped forward. The response was overwhelming and the peer support was incredible. Some women encouraged their friends--"Come on, I'll do it if you do it"--while others goosed their siblings. With the exception of 3 experienced players, the large majority had never even touched a taiko. As you know, taiko drumming is NOT a subtle art form. For Asian women who have been told not to be loud, not to be showy, and to always put the needs of others before their own, this became an opportunity not only to get behind the Film Festival but to get behind the Film Festival as fierce, proud, creative, visible, Asian WOMEN.
Using a combination of taiko and gomikan (trash can drums), this arrangement made up of simple rhythms common to the taiko community, is designed for us to show our true "genki" spirit. Thank you to the BAAFF for giving us this special opportunity to support the Festival and Asian American artists.
Within 24 hours, not just 1-2 but nearly a dozen Asian women had courageously stepped forward. The response was overwhelming and the peer support was incredible. Some women encouraged their friends--"Come on, I'll do it if you do it"--while others goosed their siblings. With the exception of 3 experienced players, the large majority had never even touched a taiko. As you know, taiko drumming is NOT a subtle art form. For Asian women who have been told not to be loud, not to be showy, and to always put the needs of others before their own, this became an opportunity not only to get behind the Film Festival but to get behind the Film Festival as fierce, proud, creative, visible, Asian WOMEN.
Using a combination of taiko and gomikan (trash can drums), this arrangement made up of simple rhythms common to the taiko community, is designed for us to show our true "genki" spirit. Thank you to the BAAFF for giving us this special opportunity to support the Festival and Asian American artists.