Pittsburgh Taiko is dedicated to bringing Japanese group taiko drumming (kumidaiko) to the city of Pittsburgh. Open to anyone interested in learning about the art form, they seek to educate members of the community about taiko and about Japanese culture through performances and outreach activities.

Pittsburgh Taiko performs both regional Japanese drumming styles arranged for their group and original compositions. In this way, they not only look to pass on knowledge of what has come before, but also work to create new possibilities for taiko performance.

Noh, a six hundred year old traditional Japanese performing art, combines elements of dance, music, theater, literature, and costume. In a series of two classes we will examine the hayashi (music) ensemble and the integral role it plays in creating the atmospheric aesthetics of this art. First we will discuss the individual instruments of the hayashi ensemble. Then, through live demonstration we will see how they interact to create a variety of musical textures at different points of a dramatic performance.

During the 17-year rule of Kim Jong-il, North Korea became a dictatorship armed to the teeth but unable to feed its own people without foreign aid. But with the death of Kim Jong Il on December 17th, foreign policy experts across the globe have wondered aloud what does the future hold for this nuclear power? “North Korea as we know it is over,” a Korea specialist who served in the second Bush administration confidently asserted in the New York Times, a mere two days after Kim died.

Come to experience an extraordinary world class show -- Shen Yun Performing arts, it will be at the Benedum Center Feb. 15-16, 2012.

Reviving the purity and grandeur of Chinese classical dance and music, the show is inspired by the myths, legends, and divine beauty of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.

Shen Yun and its breathtaking beauty are not to be missed. Its masterful choreography and graceful routines range from grand classical processions to ethnic and folk dances, with gorgeously costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns.

During the 17-year rule of Kim Jong-Il, North Korea became a dictatorship armed to the teeth but unable to feed its own people without foreign aid. But with the death of Kim Jong-Il on December 17th, foreign policy experts across the globe have wondered aloud what the future holds for this nuclear power. “North Korea as we know it is over,” a Korea specialist who served in the second Bush administration confidently asserted in the New York Times, a mere two days after Kim died. North Korea, the last Stalinist state on Earth, became the latest country to join the nuclear club in 20006.

The debate around globalization is entering a new and more mature phase reflected in the fact that it is now generally accepted that we live in an era of globalization. However, the concept is used in a bewildering variety of ways. This talk will offer a distinction between generic, capitalist, and alternative globalizations.

ASIA OVER LUNCH LECTURE – Noon in 4130 Posvar. Please feel free to join us for this lecture – all are welcome to bring their lunch or a snack along if you wish and enjoy!

Abstract: TBA

ASIA OVER LUNCH LECTURE – Noon in 4130 Posvar. Please feel free to join us for this lecture – all are welcome to bring their lunch or a snack along if you wish and enjoy!

ASIA OVER LUNCH LECTURE – Noon in 4130 Posvar. Please feel free to join us for this lecture – all are welcome to bring their lunch or a snack along if you wish and enjoy!

ASIA OVER LUNCH LECTURE – Noon in 4130 Posvar. Please feel free to join us for this lecture – all are welcome to bring their lunch or a snack along if you wish and enjoy!