★★★★☆ Japanese taiko combine with South Indian classical dance in a cross-cultural feast for the senses.

Brisbane Powerhouse
August 5, 2016

Taikoz’s Japanese drums come together with the intricate movements of Australian-Indian dance company Lingalayam for Chi Udaka – a celebration of music, dance and the forces of nature. Combining the strength and solidity of earth (‘chi’ in Japanese) in the taiko players and the fluidity of water (‘udaka’ in Sanskrit) through the movements of the Lingalayam dancers, this unique production celebrates life through these elements as they occur in a single day.

The performance opened slowly, with the soft sounds of Riley Lee’s shakuhachi – a Japanese end-blown flute – blending with John Napier’s cello and Aruna Pathiban’s classical Indian vocals, invoking the dawning of a new day. Microphone issues detracted from the overall effect, as technicians adjusted volume levels mid-performance and interrupted the held notes of Pathiban’s melodious singing.

The performance gained intensity as it progressed, mesmerising audiences with the perfect timing of the taiko drums. The players were in time even at incredible speeds, their arms a blur in the air, and the rhythm rumbled through the floor and the audience in their seats. The bells attached to the...