It's a groovy way to spend a Thursday.
A combination of music and martial arts, Nancy Mullick is spearheading the scene for Yellowknife Taiko drumming.
The art form, which has roots in Japan, is an ensemble of two or more drummers performing together for an audience. She describes the drumming as a combination of SA国际影视传媒渕ind, body and spirit.SA国际影视传媒�
ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of physicality in the performance,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou kind of come at it with your whole self.SA国际影视传媒�
Looking to share her love of Taiko, Mullick began instructing Taiko classes in town last fall.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of energy and enthusiasm to having eight students in the room and itSA国际影视传媒檚 really satisfying to watch them evolve over the eight weeks in the class,SA国际影视传媒� Mullick said of the sessions sheSA国际影视传媒檚 taught so far.
MullickSA国际影视传媒檚 Taiko lessons run each Thursday at the Collective Soul Space. The latest session, which started earlier this month, is her third go at the course.
In the eight-week sessions, Mullick said students go from the basics of how to stand and hold the sticks, to playing short compositions.
This ThursdaySA国际影视传媒檚 class with be the fourth of the term. The students, ranging from their early 20s to early 80s, last learned the Doro Oroshi exercise SA国际影视传媒� a choreographed movement involving two strong individual strikes followed by a sustained drum roll. The transition between the extensive arm movements and the roll is one that takes control, Mullick said.
Blair McBride/NNSL photo
On bringing her love of Taiko to the classroom, Mullick said SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much interest in Yellowknife in this art form.SA国际影视传媒�
Mullick was first introduced to Taiko at the 2008 Folk on the Rocks festival. Watching the performance SA国际影视传媒渨as a really significant experience for me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. Mullick then spent a month taking a Taiko intensive course in Vancouver the following year.
SkyFire, MullickSA国际影视传媒檚 Taiko performance group, has played shows internationally, including at .
She said she looks forward to having audiences gather for Taiko once again as soon as public health measures allow.
