Taiko Highland Fusion with Onibana Taiko & Shot of Scotch Highland Dancers

Shot of Scotch: Formed in 2013, Shot of Scotch Vancouver is a non-profit society dedicated to honouring and expanding the Highland dance tradition through performance and education. The company serves as a cultural and arts ambassador based in Vancouver BC, creating community connections and providing opportunities for adult Highland dancers to thrive beyond their competitive careers.

Developing partnerships and collaborative works has been a priority for Shot of Scotch. The company has had the great pleasure to work with Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band, the Seaforth Highlanders, RCMP Division “E” Pipes and Drums, Celtic band Blackthorn, the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra, and many other pipers, fiddlers and world renowned musicians. SOS has created multiple cultural fusion projects, working closely with the Royal Academy of Punjab, Skud Zavicaj Serbian dancers and Onibana Taiko, all of which have been presented at ScotFestBC in previous years.

Onibana Taiko: High intensity taiko meets traditional Japanese folk art forms meets feminist queer punk aesthetics. The band plays taiko combined with uber tactile and full-body resonating beats with the driving sounds of tsugaru shamisen (Japanese Banjo),  and soul-piercing traditional Japanese vocals.  Onibana Taiko invites audience members to commune with ancestors through music and movement. Onibana Taiko (E. Kage & NoriNori) identifies as queer and gender non-binary settlers of Japanese ancestry.

Fusion: The 2024 ScotFestBC performance brings together the traditional art forms of Highland dance and Taiko drumming in a collaborative exploration of cultural similarities and differences. This innovative initiative aims to create a dynamic, cross-cultural exchange that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional performance, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of two distinct yet resonant rhythmic and movement traditions.

We gratefully acknowledge the support from the BC Arts Council for this unique collaboration.