Japanese drum and dance show a 'real treat' for Winnipeg audience

The sounds, dances and colours of Japan were front and centre on a stage in Winnipeg on Sunday.

The drum and dance group Karakoro Eisa brought around 70 performers from Okinawa, Japan to the stage at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

"The music will be familiar to some people, and on the other hand, they are more contemporary in their presentation," said Art Miki, who helped organize the show.

"So we are seeing the old and new Japan blended together."

The group's members come from all ages and professions, but Miki said they all are passionate about the song and dance of Japanese culture.

"It is made up of young people from the ages of eight all the way up to seniors. They work as a group, like a family," he said.

"Most of them are professionals, teachers, nurses or parents who get together to work on this as a group. They've been performing all over Japan as well as in Europe."

The Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre organized to bring the troupe to Winnipeg for just one show. Miki said it was difficult to organize such a large group's travel but it's worth it to showcase a "type of show we rarely ever see in Western Canada."

Winnipeggers have likely seen taiko, traditional Japanese drumming, before but Miki said Karakoro Eisa is different.

"The members of our community would not see anything like this for a long time," he said. "So it's a real treat for us to have the kind of music that they will be performing."