Swingposium On the Road Immersive Performance

January 31–February 1, 2020

Swingposium on the Road, Humboldt featured the electrifying performances of San Jose Taiko, Epic Immersive actors and the Humboldt State University Jazz Orchestra. Three sold out performances were held at the Bayside Community Hall on January 31, and February 1, 2020.

Swingposium tells the story of how the big bands in the WWII Japanese American incarceration camps made life behind barbed wire more bearable through the joyful escape of big band music and dance. It is a tribute to the resilience of these young Japanese Americans.

San Jose Taiko chose Humboldt County for their pilot project and worked with Team Taiko (now HAPI) and the local community to raise funds to bring the performance to Humboldt County.

Additional educational outreach included two back-to-back performances of the shortened version (20 minutes) of Swingposium presented by San Jose Taiko followed by a question and answer period with history students from Eureka, Arcata and McKinleyville High Schools. Funded by the Humboldt County Office of Education. The 10 concentration camp banners were exhibited in the lobby of the theater, as well.