Choreographer Yuki Tokuda melds dance, taiko drumming in ‘Rhythms of Renewal’

The Twin Cities art scene this weekend ushers in the new year with a performance of ballet, contemporary dance and Japanese taiko drumming at Hamline University. The Landmark Center in St. Paul offers a journey through India, featuring Bollywood, Bharatanatyam and Bhangra dance performances, a sari-draping fashion show, food, and more. 

For those seeking a more introspective experience, The Playwright’s Center in Minneapolis is hosting a poetry event for parents navigating the complexities of loss and caregiving. 

Urban Expedition series brings India to St. Paul

There’s something magical about a passport — a booklet that opens the door to new worlds, cultures and experiences. This Sunday, St. Paul’s Landmark Center will host its 21st annual Urban Expedition program, offering a chance to experience India, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ethiopia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia — without ever leaving town. 

The first stop is India, with Bollywood dance, henna art, a fashion show, traditional food, and more. 

The annual series, running from January through March as part of the “Sundays at Landmark” series, highlights these five countries through music, dance, art, and food. Since its launch in 2004, the program has featured more than 80 countries, offering participants a “passport” to collect stamps as they visit the five featured nations each year at the center. Past expeditions have included the East African diaspora, China, Palestine, Laos, Philippines, Mexico, and Indonesia, among others.

“Originally, we envisioned it as bringing the world to children and families from St. Paul, the metro region and beyond, which has been really fun,” said Amy Mino, executive director of Landmark Center. “We have had people who came when they were young and are now returning with their own children.”

For each country, Landmark Center partners with local cultural groups. The India Association of Minnesota is involved in Sunday’s program, while the Guatemalan Society of Minnesota will partner for the Guatemala program on March 30. 

“We want to make sure that the programs are authentic, so we always work with community resources and often rely on community partners for planning and execution,” Mino said. “The Guatemalan and Venezuelan communities reached out to us this year and we’re excited to work with them.” 

Sunday’s India program will feature a sari-draping fashion show, henna art, printmaking, a postcard station, mandala coloring, Bollywood dance, Bhangra dance performed by children, a Bharatanatyam dance by Kala Vandanam, animal encounters from Sustainable Safari, and food from India Market and India Bazaar. 

New Year’s celebration with ballet and taiko drumming

Ballet dancer and choreographer Yuki Tokuda will ring in the new year with her upcoming performance “Rhythms of Renewal: A New Year’s Dance Celebration” at Hamline University’s Sundin Music Hall. The performance will feature a mix of ballet by Tokuda, Japanese taiko drumming by TaikoArts Midwest and contemporary dance by choreographer Darius Strong.

Strong, known for blending modern dance with hip-hop, ballet, and West African styles, will perform the solo “Naihatsu” (translated as “burst of energy from within”) and a duet with Tokuda titled “Impermanent Wind.” 

Tokuda, a Twin Cities-based artist originally from Japan, will perform the solo “Shunpuu” (Spring Breeze), while dancers from Center Stage Dance Studio will perform the work “Pounding Hooves.”

Local artists explore parenting, loss and caregiving through poetry

As the demands of parenting grow, many caregivers also face the challenge of caring for aging parents or navigating personal loss. This Saturday, Spark and Stitch Institute, in collaboration with Poetry for People, will host “Raising Love & Grief,” at the Playwright’s Center in Minneapolis. The event will create a healing space that blends poetry, reflection and community for parents navigating the intersections of caregiving and grief.

Black and queer playwright Sharon Bridgforth will lead the event, reading excerpts from her forthcoming book “Before You Go: An Offering.” She will be joined by theater artist Miré Regulus, choreographer and end-of-life doula Sandy Agustin, and Erin Walsh, co-founder of the Spark and Stitch Institute. 

“This event is about validation and connection,” Regulus said in a news release. “It’s a chance to be in a space that acknowledges the complexity of being a parent while also caring for aging parents or facing loss, and to realize that these experiences can coexist with love and joy.”

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