Hi everyone, It has been a very busy year so far at TZD and so much is happening it is hard to grasp it all. As you know, this is my final semester here at TZD, so this has also been an emotional rollercoaster of sorts. I am really going to miss the community we have built together here in Ulm and in Europe.
I also want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you for the positive thoughts and wishes for my future. It is a strange thing, entering a new chapter in life without having any concrete plan of what is going to happen. It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. So I am very grateful for all of your positive energy. Keep it coming!
Ulm's New Taiko Club!
On March 4th, Taiko Zentrum Ulm was born! This new city-sponsored club is the next iteration of Taiko Zentrum Deutschland and will continue under the direction of SImon Gödecke, Martin Ross, and Ursula Windmiller. The club is off to a great start already with over 30 members!
It is super exciting for me to watch things taking off and growing without me being involved. I feel like I can hand the reins over and taiko is going to continue here in an exciting, new direction. I am so very proud of everyone in our Ulm taiko community for taking this project on and keeping the taiko spirit alive! If you want to get involved, please sign up here:
Dojo Moving Party, March 23rd
As of April 1st, our dojo will be relocating to the Waldorfschule Illerblick, and we will be saying goodbye to the place that has been out taiko home for the past 9 years. This is where it all began! We have hosted five Taikopaloozas, had so many wonderful workshops, classes and just fun evenings together. It is sad to say goodbye to such a special place, but I also realize it is all of you who made it special :) So THANK YOU!
March 23rd, 17:00
Come out and join us for an evening of taiko and friendship! We are going to be socializing and playing taiko from 17:00-18:00 or until it gets dark, and then enjoying something to eat and drink as we spend one final evening together in this very special space.
Incidentally, I have taken a lot of movies, books, tools, games, and other things to the dojo that I need to get rid of before I move to America, so pick something up and leave a donation behind. It will help me a ton with my move!
Please RSVP using the button below.
Easter Break & Scottish Taiko Festival
EASTER BREAK: April 1 - 14
Our Easter break will be from April 1st - April 14th. The dojo will be closed during these two weeks, but taiko will still be happening... in Scotland!!
I am excited to be teaching a workshop, and helping out at this amazing event, hosted by our wonderful friends in Tsuchigumo Daiko & Shoshin Taiko. Click the image above to visit the site and learn more about this incredible event. I know many of our students are already going!
JULY 19-28, Manti, Utah, USA
And of course the Utah Taiko Experience will be happening once again this Summer! We have 8 spaces left, so if you are interested, now is the time to get booked! We have a great group of people registered already with nearly half of them coming from Europe! It is going to be a fantastic and exhilarating 10 days of intense taiko, adventuring in nature, making friendships and building community. Don't miss it!
UTAIKO & More...
As I prepare to leave Europe for the USA, I am continually reminded just how much we accomplished here together. I don't talk about it often, but my beginnings here were beyond difficult. I had to start a new life here with literally nothing. No home, no money... I didn't even speak German.
Bit it seems the universe brought certain special people & friends into my life at just the right times. People who wanted to help and who were excited and supportive on so many levels. People who not only helped and supported me, but believed in me and my crazy ideas! From finding our first dojo, to beginning Taiko Zentrum Deutschland, to Taikopalooza, to Utah Taiko Experience and all the crazy adventures in between. I can't thank you all enough for being a part of and supporting me and taiko here! Which is why I have to say, I am extremely proud of and humbled by what WE have accomplished together!!
As I move forward in my next chapter, I hope you will all keep in touch! I will still be coming to Europe and would love the opportunity to catch up and teach a workshop with your groups if you should wish it.
If you would like to follow me on my new journey, check out www.utaiko.com and subscribe to the newsletter. I also have a facebook and instagram accounts for utaiko and would appreciate the support! The plan is to start teaching in Utah this Fall and see where things go:)
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the 23rd. Thank you all so very very much for being a part of this journey. We did something pretty amazing, and I am so grateful to have shared it with you.
Big hugs and lots of love,
Razz