MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg’s Kulkarni Cultural Series will welcome the world-class contemporary taiko group, San Jose Taiko, for a brief artists’ residency Tuesday, Feb. 27, through Thursday, Feb. 29.

The San Jose Taiko Rhythm Journey is high-energy performance art that combines earth-rumbling drums, music, dance and martial arts. This event will be presented in the Kulkarni Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7:30 p.m. The performance is open to the public and tickets are required. Please check the Kulkarni Box Office page for ticket information.

The residency also will include a Drum and Music Workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 p.m. Open to the Penn State Harrisburg community, participants will have an opportunity to explore the history of the Japanese taiko tradition through hands-on drumming and synchronized choreography.

There also will be a panel discussion titled "Unapologetically Asian: Combatting Stereotypes and Finding One's Voice" on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 11:30 a.m. in the Kulkarni Theatre on campus. Moderated by Wanda Knight, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Penn State Harrisburg, and featuring members of the San Jose Taiko company and representatives from the campus community. Panelists will discuss thier varied lived experiences as immigrants/descendants of Asian heritage. The panel event will encourage conversation and dialogue and conclude with an open question-and-answer session. The discussion is open to the college and local community.

This engagement of San Jose Taiko is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.