Featuring San Jose Taiko, Epic Immersive, and Wesley Jazz Ensemble
San Jose, CA - San Jose Taiko, Epic Immersive, and Wesley Jazz Ensemble team up to present Swingposium: Big Band Music and Dance from Camp, which brings tribute to Japanese-Americans involved in swing music and dance during WWII Internment Camps. This event will take place on Saturday, June 24th at 8:00PM at Wesley United Methodist Church.
“Swingposium is essentially a dance as opposed to a concert” says San Jose Taiko Artistic Director Franco Imperial. “The intention is to celebrate the amazing people who, in the midst of being incarcerated, turned to music and dance as a means of survival. We’ve invited Epic Immersive to help craft a dynamic environment for the audience. This is not a typical show where you sit and passively observe.”
Epic Immersive CEO and Founder Steve M. Boyle explains, “Epic Immersive creates immersive theatrical experiences - 360-degree live fictional worlds with stories that run through them. There are storylines like with a movie or a play, but instead of sitting in a seat, guests are part of the experience’s universe. In this case, guests will be transported to a swing dance hall at a WWII internment camp. There they’ll dance, meet new people, be guided through a narrative, and experience from the inside one of the great, beautiful, under-told, and uplifting stories of the Japanese American internment camps.”
“This event is a precursor for Japantown Immersive: A larger scale event in 2018 that will be part of San Jose Taiko’s 45th Anniversary season” Imperial says. “We’re excited to present work that honors our Japantown community and hope folks enjoy this special evening of music, dance, and story.”
Admission is free but space is limited, so you will need to reserve your spot online. Donations are accepted.
Event: Swingposium
When: Saturday, June 24, 8:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: Wesley United Methodist Church - 566 North 5th Street, San Jose
Admission: Free with required online reservation. Donations accepted.
Notes:
Please be advised that this event is a dance, not a concert. Seating will be limited to benches along the walls and is not guaranteed to be available.
Audiences are welcome but not required to dress in 40’s dance attire. You do not need to know how to swing dance to attend this event.
