Taiko drumming has been a feature of the College's dance offerings for nearly a decade, thanks largely to the efforts of Associate Professor of Dance Kim Arrow. Here, he discusses how what he calls a "perfect marriage of dance and drumming" has grown at Swarthmore, including the development of a significant relationship between the College and Tamagawa University in Japan.

Arrow, an accomplished dancer and choreographer, is the recipient of two Fulbright Fellowships and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for choreography, among other awards. He joined Swarthmore's faculty in 1991 and next teaches a taiko repertory class in Spring 2010.

For more Swarthmore Taiko, check out this excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Yuan Liu '09, who graduated this spring as a studio art and English literature double major, produced this short film about sculptor Hiroyuki Hamada's recent exhibition at the List Gallery on campus. Yiu served as the Gallery's intern her senior year. Now, as a Philly Fellow, she is working with the Philadelphia Young Playwrights as a marketing and communications coordinator.

Although many of his forms suggest weathered buoys and other nautical forms, Hamada takes more inspiration from music than literal sources in the everyday world. Hamada moved from his native Tokyo to West Virginia at the age of 18, when his father took a job in the steel industry. Entering college, his struggle to communicate in English and to comprehend his newfound minority status catalyzed his profound response to the abstract fundamentals of drawing and sculpture - the universal language of geometry and design. He went on to receive his MFA from the University of Maryland and was subsequently awarded two residencies from the Edward Albee Foundation. His List Gallery show was his first in the Greater Philadelphia region.

This semester's student dance concert featured a variety of performance styles and traditions including modern, flamenco, taiko, tap, African, and Kathak.

Choreographed by Carmella Ollero '09; performed by Carmella Ollero '09 with Lisa Cabral ’09, Amelia Kidd '11, Tavia Odinak ‘09,  and Allison Stuewe '12; music by Radiohead; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Carmella is the recipient of the Hally Jo Stein Award, given by the dance faculty and based on a student's overall involvement, achievement, and excellence in the area of dance over the course of the student's time at Swarthmore.

Choreographed by Associate in Performance Dolores Luis Gmitter with Monica Herrera, Julia Lopez, and Javier C. Camacho '09. Solo "Encarcelado" choreographed and performed by Javier C. Camacho ’09; guitar played live by John D. Penn; accompaniment excerpted from "Canticum" by Leo Brouwer; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Directed by Cornell Visiting Professor Isaburoh Hanayagi; composed by Isaburoh Hanayagi and Tamagawa Taiko students. Performers: Madeleine Abromowitz '10, Associate Professor of Dance Kim Arrow, David Burgy '10, Adam Chuong '12, Arthur Chyan '10, Caitlin Daimon '11, Quinn David '11, Sara Davidson, Joanie Jean '11, Brice Jordan '12, Masayo Kaneko, Robert Manduca '10,  Alexandra Martinez, Melinda Neal '11, Alysha Newton '10, James Preimesberger '11, Lorenzo Ramirez '10, Roseanna Sommers '10, Tyler Stivala '10, Sven Udekwu '09, and Madrianne Wong; special guests: Joseph Small ’05 and Alex Hudson ’05; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Choreographed by Associate in Performance LaDeva M. Davis; performed by Peter Akkies '12, Emily Allen, Zoe Bridges-Curry ‘09, LaDeva M. Davis, Alison Flamm ‘09, Sara Forster '11, Ashley Gunter ‘09, Ben Hattem '12, Solange Hilfinger-Pardo '12, Madeleine Laupheimer '10, Grace Loudon, Teal Patterson '11, Brian Ratcliffe '11, Lisa Riddle ‘09, Marie Rousseau '12, Min Sern Teh '12, and Professor Emerita of Chemistry Judith Voet; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Choreographed by Assistant Professor of Dance Pallabi Chakravorty in collaboration with the dancers; performed by Tristan Bice '09, Nicole Cox '12, Phillip Chodrow '12, Daniella Noble '12, Alexandra Raskin '09, Diana Pozo '09; Tabla played live by Lenny Seidman, vocals by Pallabi Chakravorty and performers; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

Choreographed by Associate in Performance C. Kemal Nance '92; performed by Stephen Graf ’09, Carmella Ollero ’09, Sophia Pan ’09, Luis Rodriguez ’09, Kaitlin Smith, and Anne Tucci; music by Stevie Wonder, sung live by JaDell Davis ’06, Lela Jones, and Kayla Price; live percussion by Anna Grant and Alex Shaw ‘00; costume design by Laila Swanson; lighting design by James P. Murphy. This is an excerpt from the Spring 2009 Student Dance Concert.

The Department of Theater presented an invigorating exploration of Shakespeare's staggering tragedy in May 2009 in several locations around Crum Meadow. Audience members were encouraged to "come prepared to feast, think, dance, delve, and explore, and enjoy!"   Read more in The Phoenix.

The production was the Honors directing thesis of Jacqueline Vitale ’09. Colin Aarons ’09 is featured in the title role.  Designers include: Daniel Perelstein ’09 (sound), Carmella Ollero ’09 (choreography), Emma Ferguson ’10 (set), Allison McCarthy ’09 (costumes), and Logan Tiberi-Warner ’10 (body art). Guest artist Kate Watson-Wallace provided space and movement dramaturgy. The production also featured "wildly re-imagined music by The Kinks played live by Swarthmore's finest troubadours."