HOME / 2026-27 SEASON / SWINGPOSIUM

photo by mark larson

AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER

TaikoArts Midwest and Theater Mu are proud to present this nationally acclaimed show by San Jose Taiko! Swingposium blends taiko, big band music, swing dancing, and immersive theater to tell the true history of how Japanese Americans found hope despite being detained in the US incarceration camps of WWII.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DATES

Oct 16-18, 2026

• Friday, Oct 16, at 7 pm

• Saturday, Oct 17, at 2 and 7 pm

• Sunday, Oct 18, at 2 and 7 pm

This is an immersive, primarily standing (and dancing) event. Please write in any access needs/accommodations when you purchase your ticket. Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of the experience:

• We encourage you to get in the mood by coming dressed up in swing era clothing! While it is suggested, it is not mandatory to dress up for or dance at the show.

• This is an immersive theater production featuring acting, dancing, music, and of course, taiko. For that reason, there is not traditional theater-style seating. Limited seating will be available for those who can’t stand for long periods or for those who need a break from standing.

• In this program, the audience and performers share the same space, moving around the room throughout the show to experience the story, the music, and the taiko. The experience is designed for audience participation, so you’re encouraged to dance, clap, cheer, interact, and engage with the story as it unfolds.

• We encourage you to travel light as you may move from spot to spot throughout the room, and we don’t have a formal bag or coat check.

• Due to the nature of the program, the doors will close 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. Latecomers can not be accommodated.

PRICE

Advanced tickets to the show are $35, with youth tickets at $25 (available for those 17 years and under). Tickets will be $40 at the door.

Groups of 10+ can receive discounted tickets costing $25: Reach out to info@theatermu.org to book. This production has audience interaction and encourages people to move around and dance, but accessible seating will be available.

VENUE INFO

Swingposium will take place at CSPS Hall, located at 383 W Michigan St, Saint Paul, MN 55102. There is a dedicated parking lot for the hall as well as street parking.

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

SAN JOSE TAIKO was founded in 1973 and creates innovative performances and comprehensive educational programs, empowering diverse voices and educating across cultures to build a more accepting and engaged world. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, company performers express the beauty of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko, creating a vibrant, contemporary art form as they strive to connect people through cultural understanding, creative expression, and rhythmic heartbeat.

TAIKOARTS MIDWEST develops, produces, and promotes artistic excellence in taiko performance, using taiko as a way to strengthen and build community in the Midwest. It is also the springboard for several performing groups: Ensō Daiko, Big Gravity, TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, and the Mighty Drumming Club (youth). Founded in 2016, they celebrate and recognize the full diversity and depth of taiko arts, embrace Asian arts and artists in our Minnesota landscape, and believe in the physical, emotional, social, and cultural benefits of taiko.

Swingposium Sponsors

Thank you to our generous community for helping us bring this vital production to the Twin Cities!

Les & Karen Suzukamo

Martin & Brown Foundation

Jeanne Sakata & Tim Patterson

Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League

Contact info@theatermu.org if you’d like to learn more about how to support this presentation as an individual or corporate sponsor, or if you’d like to purchase group tickets (10+) at a discount.

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