It wasn't so long ago that taiko drumming was exclusively an activity and art for men. Though Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, co-directors of the documentary Finding Her Beat, won't take credit for changing that paradigm, their film does highlight the shift that has found many women learning the craft.
"It shakes your body," says Mikkelson of Taiko drumming. Going into the project, neither filmmaker was all that familiar with the Japanese instrument. "I remember being a little shocked," says Pickett. "Where did this come from?" The journey encapsulated in Finding Her Beat sees a gathering of women from around the globe descending on Minnesota for an all-female taiko performance.
Finding Her Beat has found incredible success at film festivals and is now poised to make a splash on streaming services. On February 14th, the film will become available on Amazon, Google Play and Tubi. To learn more about the award-winning documentary, visit the Finding Her Beat website.
You can hear Community Connection every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am on Northland Morning. This edition of Community Connection is made possible in part by Lakewalk Surgery Center.
