Kris Bergstrom and Minh Nguyen Showcasing New Works of Dance and Taiko

Taiko, movement, electronics. Arugakki (Kris Bergstrom and Minh Nguyen) showcase their newest works in this informal performance in the intimate Nickle Theatre on the Mount Royal University campus.

Also featuring performances by taiko players who have worked with Kris and Minh in a special week-long composition residency and workshops.

"Three recent influences have profoundly changed my taiko playing and increased my enjoyment of drumming: playing to music, extended naname technique, and movement theory from the dance world. In early 2020, I'm sharing these influences with taiko players in a teaching and composition residency tour with dancer Minh Nguyen. In addition to teaching one-time workshops and two-day intensives, we'll do one-week residencies with a number of the ensembles, writing rhythms, choreography, and electronic music for the ensembles inspired by sounds and gestures discovered on tour." - Kris Bergstrom

"I met Kris in Albuquerque where he was one of five choreographers-in-residence at the Keshet Makers' Space Experience. He is taking dance movement and choreography concepts and applying them to taiko movement, particularly in his new choreography for slant-drum taiko. I, in turn, am taking rhythm concepts from taiko and applying them to dance. In the 2020 tour I'll be teaching movement and providing feedback in Kris' workshops and he'll be playing music and teaching rhythm in mine." - Minh Nguyen