The Beat of Life

Wai Taiko is a Japanese Drumming group based at Waikato University. Wai Taiko is a vibrant and dynamic performance group whose repertoire contains a wide range of modern and traditional Taiko songs which encompass the fundamental elements of Taiko - power, rhythm and movement. Taiko is a feast for the ears and eyes as it blends intricate rhythms and choreography to give a truly incredible performance. The group is led by Michelle Miles and Lianne Stephenson who teach with a mixture of quote "fun & fanaticism". They commenced the crazy Japanese art of Taiko drumming in 2000 with 2 homemade drums - craftily created using the internet, wine barrels and a bit of kiwi ingenuity by Barry Stephenson. The group has played at a wide range of events including festivals, corporate events, school occasions and even weddings! TEDxRuakura is held in Hamilton, New Zealand. 2018 is our fourth year. Please check out the other talks from TEDxRuakura. Visit http://TEDxRuakura.com to find out about upcoming events