The St. Louis Arches are the sensational, performing youth circus troupe from the Circus Day Foundation. They are currently comprised of youth aged 6 - 23 years old from throughout the St. Louis area. The Arches perform a wide variety of circus skills including tumbling, trapeze, juggling, stilt walking, tightrope walking, unicycling, rolling globe, mini-trampoline and partner acrobatics. Since their inception in 1989, they have been coached and choreographed by Circus Day Foundation's artistic/executive director, Jessica Hentoff.
Audiences everywhere flip over this talented troupe. The Arches have performed at an array of local events including: Le Bal Rouge at the St. Louis Art Museum, the National Charity Horse Show, the opening of America's Center, Loop in Motion Festival, Children's Art Festival, Ellisville 4th of July Festival, Fair St. Louis and First Night St. Louis, to name just a few. Performing with Circus Flora, the Arches have been seen literally coast-to-coast performing at such wonderful venues as: The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, Scottsdale Center of the Performing Arts in Arizona, Houston Children's Museum in Texas, and Glimmerglass Opera Theater & Art Park in upstate New York.
This acclaimed and accomplished group of young people can be seen almost every weekend amazing audiences at City Museum. The St. Louis Arches embody the Circus Day Foundation's mission statement: “We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through teaching and performance of circus skills, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time.” That’s why they call them the Fabulous, Flying St. Louis Arches!!!
Literal translation of a Japanese word “taiko” is “big/fat drum,” although, there is a variety of shapes and sizes of taiko available and used. Taiko is an indigenous part of the Japanese culture dating back more than 1400 years. Long ago, taiko was beaten in warfare to boost the moral of the troops and to fool invading armies into believing that a formidable opposition was on the march. It was also used as a communication method among the neighboring villages as taiko's deep, thunderous sound traveled for miles. Taiko has also been associated with the gods and religions of Japan. Above all, however, the most popular use of taiko, past and present, has been at festivals.
The first formal introduction of taiko to the United States was in 1968 by Master Seiichi Tanaka with the formation of the first North American taiko group - San Francisco Taiko Dojo. He and his group went on to inspire many, if not most, of the taiko groups throughout the America. Since then, taiko has not only become popular but has also become a part of the universal musical language drawing our world closer together. Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi in Suwa, Japan formed the original Osuwa Taiko, and since then he has helped the foundation of other Osuwa Taiko branches throughout the world. Approximately 15 years ago, Oguchi visited St. Louis (sister city of Suwa) with a generous donation of handmade drums to the City, and helped form the first Osuwa Taiko in St. Louis. St. Louis Osuwa Taiko was restarted at Washington University in September of 1996. The reorganized group started with five members and was initially exposed to the public during the MAASU Student Summit held at the University in November of 1996. Since then, the group has grown and has been invited to perform at numerous events and occasions throughout the mid-west United States. They hope to broaden the awareness of this rich Japanese tradition and culture to the general public.
The mission of the St. Louis Modern Chinese School is to promote Chinese language and culture, to help the younger generation to preserve and appreciate Chinese heritage, and to promote understanding between Chinese and other ethnic groups. Staffed by volunteers, the St. Louis Modern Chinese School currently teaches Chinese language and culture to around 300 students of all ages.
Students from the School perform two major shows each year and are also invited to participate in many special events around St. Louis, most notably the Chinese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and the St. Louis Chinese Association's Chinese New Year Celebration. For Far East Meets Midwest, the School will present two dynamic, traditional Chinese numbers, the Lion dance and the Wrist Drums. Both acts combine elements of dance, music, martial arts and traditional Chinese costuming and choreography.
Ray Amanat is the Head Coach of Team Respect National Karate Team. Team Respect is very involved in community and civic affairs. They have performed for local organizations like the Boy and Girl Scouts, local fairs such as the October Fest in St. Charles, the VP Fair Downtown, the St. Louis Fair and Air Show and the half time shows for the St. Louis Swarm Basketball Team. Team Respect consists of many talented youth and adults from ages 7 & up who continue to win numerous awards in their divisions both locally and nationally. Amanat's Karate Center is devoted to Self-Defense for Children and Adults, Conflict Resolution & Self-Defense for ADD, BD, & LD children and Health & Fitness for the whole family. Mr. Amanat has been very involved in personal awareness and assault prevention for over 12 years. He is successful in the areas of martial arts as competitors in fighting, weapons, and open-hand routines and is also the owner and chief instructor of the Center.
Koma-mawashi is the Japanese children's play of top spinning. Over more than half a century, Hiroshi Tada has evolved the simple children's play into an art of family entertainment. He performs a rather non-traditional presentation of a traditional ethnic art. This low-tech, but highly scientific, art relies on sheer skill to manipulate a plain, primitive toy top with a rope using some elements of juggling, yo-yo and even magic. Tada's routines include many unique and amazing feats not found anywhere else.
In the words of the Riverfront Times “The laws of gravity are putty in the hands of this guru of the gyro.” Hiroshi Tada is a regular attraction at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Japanese Festival, Missouri History Museum’s International FunFest, Queeny Park’s International Folk Fest and Tower Grove’s Festival of Nations, to name just a few.
Dr. Tada is also an affiliate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and is an internationally recognized expert in his field.