“This incursion was facilitated by the amazing Taikoz, in collaboration with our Music and Language Departments,” Said Head of Primary Music Nik Glass.
“The event was designed to actively immerse students in movement, drumming and craft workshops. This was an exciting opportunity to engage our Year 6 cohort in a range of stimulating hands-on experiences that reinforce our IGS values of diversity, authenticity and connectedness, while also bringing Japanese language into focus.
“Students rotated across four different activities in their home room class groups. They studied Onikenbai, a beautiful, powerful and fascinating dance and music form that hails from the Iwate Prefecture. They also performed excerpts from an Australian Taiko drumming work, composed by Anton Lock, a former member of Taikoz. Titled, Dirt Rhythms, this drumming work responds to Lock’s own experiences in regional NSW where the ochre earth was prominent and vast. The students also explored the movement elements of Hana Taoyakani.”
The incursion culminated in an informal performance for parents and fellow students.
The workshops were facilitated by Taikoz artists as well Assistant Head of Primary Languages Machiko Ohta. Sensei Machiko worked with Year 6 students to create a beautiful blossom tree mural out of Origami. The Year 6 Blossom Tree is on display near the Bibliothèque.