PHOTOS PROVIDED Drum Tao returns to Happy Valley for a performance at the Eisenhower Auditorium on Jan. 27.

PHOTOS PROVIDED
Drum Tao returns to Happy Valley for a performance at the Eisenhower Auditorium on Jan. 27.

UNIVERSITY PARK — Direct from Japan, big-drum percussion ensemble Drum Tao returns to North America with an all-new show, “The Best,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Tickets are $52 for an adult, $14 for a University Park student, and $19 for a person 18 and younger and are available for purchase online. Avoid the $4 fee by purchasing over the phone at 814-863-0255 or in person, weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Drum Tao is renowned for its dynamic choreography, striking visuals and thunderous rhythms. Each performance is a full-body, vibrational experience. “The Best” blends traditional wadaiko (Japanese drums) with modern energy and theatrical flair.

‘Undoubtedly one of the finest shows’

Drum Tao shows feature vibrant costumes, dramatic synchronized drumming and unstopping movement with a variety of traditional Japanese instruments, including flutes and harps alongside the massive taiko drums.

In 2016, the ensemble’s Off-Broadway debut sold out and earned the artists accolades. A year later, Drum Tao launched the long-running Tokyo show “Mangekyo.” In 2020, the group opened its new permanent outdoor theater, Tao no Oka, nestled in Aso Kuju National Park.

A definitive Japanese art form, Drum Tao’s achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award, the Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner’s Award, the Outstanding Cultural Achievement Award from Oita Prefecture and the Cultural Creation Award from Taketa City.

A reporter for the Edinburgh Evening News raved that a performance by Drum Tao is “undoubtedly one of the finest shows!”