The Taiko-group TENTEKKO demonstrates in an impressive way physical force combined with extraordinary dexterity and music of stirring vitality.
TENTEKKO was founded in 1989 with three members in the beginning. Today the group has twelve members, six Japanese and six Germans.
In 1991 TENTEKKO had their first public performance. In 1988 the leader of the group, Monika Baumgartl, photographer, former tap-dancing instructor and Dance Alive specialist, was so enthusiastic about a concert of the Taiko-group "Kodo" given in Duesseldorf and so inspired by their performance that she decided to go to Japan the very same year to visit the group on the Sado-island and to experience and to learn this art at the place of its origin. During her stay at Sado she got to know members of other Taiko-groups and received lots of invitations.
This way she had the opportunity to continue her "apprenticeship" with such famous groups as "Miyoshi Daiko" near Hiroshima, "Kotaro" on the Shikoku-island and the "Ongaku Musik-Center" in Matsuyama. In winter 1992/93 she was a guest of the "San Francisco Taiko Dojos".
TheTaiko-group TENTEKKO was the first group in Germany/Europa to perform Japanese drumming.  Since 1991 the group has had lots of national and international appearances & concerts among others:

• Alte Oper Frankfurt
• „Deutschlandfest", Berlin
• „Karate Kyokushin World Cup", Palais Omnisport, Paris
• ARD Köln „Geld oder Liebe"
• Filmproduktion „Wilde Trauer", Musikhalle Hamburg
• Musee des Artes Asiatique, Nizza, Frankreich
• Europäische Karatemeisterschaften, Schöneberg, Berlin
• Filmstudio Babelsberg, Berlin
• WDR Köln, „Morgenmagazin"
• Sumo Weltmeisterschaften, Riesa
• EXPO 2000 Hannover, Zur Eröffnung des japanischen Pavillons
• Events and Produktpräsentation in Europe (Adidas, Volkswagen, Canon, Toyota, Coca-Cola, ......)
• Stade - de - France  Paris, soccer match, France-Belgium, sponsored by Coca Cola
• Concerts in Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, ...

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