This week, on August 1st, I was an Arlington Heights DJ. Sort of… I provided sound at the annual Mitsuwa Marketplace Japanese Summer Festival. The Mitsuwa Marketplace is a great place to get hard to find Japanese items, and delicious food. My job was to provide a sound system with mixing board and microphones for the various groups and MC. Its always an adventure with the weather when you’re an Arlington Heights DJ playing outside. Mother nature gave us some sprinkles, and I had to get out the tarps a few times, but by the end of the days events, (about 8:30) the weather was perfectly clear and the temperature was comfortable all day.
JASC Tsukasa Taiko Drummers
The events began with a Montessori group singing some Traditional Songs, they were cute, young and very talented. They were followed by a large adult group pictured above. Taiko Drumming is beautiful to watch as they dance while playing. It sounds awesome, and I was hearing it in my head as I layed down to sleep that night. The ryhthms were intoxicating and the group was very precise. In between performances, while the main group was setting up their various drums, a duo played traditional Japanese instruments. Unfortunately, I did not write down the names of the performers or their instruments.
The duo played while the larger group changed sets
This group performed intricate dancing while playing their drums. The costumes were vivid, the beat made me want to dance too.
taiko-dancing-drummers
Later, there were more musicians and the singer, Yoko sang some traditional Japanese folk songs.
There was an impressive Karate demonstration, more drummers, some airline ticket giveaways, and the grand finale was a Japanese Tradition call the Bone Dance. It’s actually a series of dances performed over and over while traveling in a circular pattern. The leaders of the dance (decked out in their traditional Kimonos) invited everyone to participate. The moves were simple enough to figure out, but also challenging enough to make it interesting. The music was simple, and happy and there was lots of smiling. I can hear the melodies in my head again when I look at these pictures. I made the Kimono ladies laugh when they saw me trying to follow along with them. Yep, I usually have that effect on people when they see me dance!
The Bone Dance Was A Hit
Fun for all