Orcas Center will present one performance only of the Portland Taiko on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Those who have experienced taiko drumming know the thrilling sound created by performers playing large drums in unison, moving in dramatic choreography. Taiko, the Japanese word for drum, has its roots in ancient Japanese tradition. Taiko drumming was used in religious ceremonies, community festivals and theater, and the boundaries of villages were defined by the distance from which the community’s taiko could be heard. American taiko was born in the late 1960s, and it became a powerful symbol of voice during the struggle for redress of the Japanese American internment.

Established in 1994, Portland Taiko Ensemble is an award-winning Asian American drumming ensemble. The performers weave rhythm, melody, humor and movement together into an exhilarating musical experience. By combining traditional and contemporary compositions and choreography, Portland Taiko Ensemble takes Asian American music into unexplored territory with its innovative and provocative creations. The only professional taiko company in the Pacific Northwest, Portland Taiko Ensemble has been honored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Composers Forum.

Portland Taiko is brought to the San Juan Islands through the collaborative efforts of San Juan Theatre, Lopez Center and Orcas Center. Support from the San Juan County Lodging Tax Fund assists in these collaborative efforts.

Orcas community members are reminded that a generous patron has made free tickets available to those who could not otherwise afford to purchase them. For more information, contact Artha Kass at artha@orcascenter.org or 376-2281 ext. 4.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are $24, $16 for Orcas Center members, and $10 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.orcascenter.org or call 376-2281 ext. 1 during box office hours, Thursday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.