Step Up Your Spirit
with Drumming and Ethnic Dance
Around Bozeman
who sees it wants to
find "Yamama," based
do it," says Melissa Duon Yamama, a tradilin, of Montana Taiko,
tional African goddess
who first experienced
celebrating fertility,
Taiko while living in
creativity, and womJapan. With a 5x3 ft
en's power. This group
drum as the opponent,
practice West African
Melissa feels that
hand drumming.
Taiko is an empowerAccording to Shaun
ing and safe place for
Phoenix, a member
women to be loud
of Yamama, these six
and to get comfortwomen bring in other
able making mistakes,
The Yamama group. Photo by Rab Cummings.
rhythms, use their
pushing through and
voices and choreography, to bring these West African
being great anyway. She would encourage anyone
rhythms to life right here in our Big Sky country.
interested in trying out Montana Taiko to, "challenge it,
Their intention is to become a World Rhythm Enface your fears and find out that you are more capable
semble. Shaun dove into drumming therapeutically
than you realize, plus it's a great workout!" For more
for 20-25 years where she just expressed ecstatic
information on Montana Taiko call Melissa Dulin at 406drumming, with no form other than celebration
580-6698 or visit www.montanataiko.org.
"The rhythms that
govern life can get
out of balance;
finding a way to
practice bringing
that into a form
that is in celebration
with a community
is very healing."
Montana Taiko Group.
Photo by Erik Petersen.
D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A
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