Arugakki

A contemporary bridge to our rhythmic roots

Arugakki in concert

Tricky Left Tour 2026

Friday, June 5 2026

Doors at 6:30pm

Show 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Cost: Free; Optional donations accepted at the end of show

Over three years in the making, "Tricky Left" is a dynamic and emotional powerhouse of original music and choreography, featuring taiko (Japanese drums), percussion, synthesizers, and home-made instruments enmeshed with movement.Formed in 2020 by life-long dancer, Minh Nguyen, and internationally-recognized taiko artist, Kristofer Bergstrom, Arugakki debuted with its critically-acclaimed theater production, "Harbor" (https://k--b.org/performances/harbor-premier) and has gone on to become one of the taiko world's most exciting ensembles. A preview of "Tricky Left" presented at the 2025 North American Taiko Conference was acclaimed as one of the most original and emotional taiko performances of the last decade.

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Arugakki is a collective of taiko artists, musicians, and dancers surrounding Los Angeles-based performer and composer, Kristofer Bergstrom, and the hub for adventurous taiko in southern California, Los Angeles Taiko Institute. Arugakki's performances take diverse forms, from participatory mochi-making theater parties to bicycle-powered, roving taiko concerts. Arugakki's percussive, uplifting music fuels engagement and celebration. Arugakki's music is the defiantly contemporary, southern-California version of a traditional concept: rhythm as integral part of art and culture.

Kristofer Bergstrom is a percussionist, composer, and choreographer, known for pushing the boundaries of Japanese drums and for his groundbreaking choreography for slant-style taiko. After three and a half years studying traditional Japanese music and dance in Japan, Bergstrom was a founding member of On Ensemble, formed Los Angeles Taiko Institute alongside Yuta Kato, was Artist in Residence of the City of Los Angeles in 2018, Asano Taiko US in 2019, and Grand Vision Foundation in 2020. Performing under the moniker, Arugakki, he and dancer Minh Nguyen released Harbor in early 2021 and are now focused on composition, research, and practice.

More info about Arugakki here: https://k--b.org/projects/arugakki

Organized by Dayna Del Mar.

Questions? Please email Dayna at asemavidaarts at gmail dot com