Besides the thousands of runners, they are perhaps the best-known tradition of the Singelloop in Breda: the percussionists of Tomodachi Taiko from Rijsbergen. On large Japanese drums they whip up the riders to persevere towards the finish. There are now busy practicing for the next Singelloop, which is on October 1.
Tomodachi Taiko is Japanese for ‘friends who play big drums together’. And they’ve been doing that for about nine years now. The only one in the South of the Netherlands.
Grete Moortgat from Antwerp gives the group lesson. “It’s actually a combination of sport and music. So you have to assume that you play with the whole body and create rhythms with it.” And that can also be seen during the rehearsal. The more than twenty participants dance simultaneously with thick sticks and beat the traditional drums.
And like everything in Japan, this must be very disciplined. “It is indeed very strict, because there are really specific rules for the choreography. And that is not just to make it look nice as a group. It is mainly intended to ensure that you use your body properly to avoid injuries to avoid,” Grete explains.
And there is an agreement with the Singelloop Breda, where the riders also try to reach the finish line without damage.
Krisje Brabander arranges their participation in the running competition on behalf of the Japanese percussion group, but from the sidelines. “We are there every year. With our performance we want to motivate participants to run a little further. Our drums sound very loud and provide energy. And we also make energetic movements and hope to have an interaction with the runners. “
And that is appreciated, says Krisje: “We get a thumbs up from many riders. Even from the mayor who passed by as a participant. And that gives us energy to keep going. Even after the race, participants come back to us to to give them a pat on the back. Because they like it so much that we do this for them.”
Teacher Grete Moortgat previously studied ballet, judo and karate. But when she was in Tokyo for a year, she became hooked on Taiko. “It’s a combination of strength and elegance. It’s focus and concentration, but also throwing out energy and zest for life.”
“It’s hitting, dancing, beating away frustration, but also something that makes you happy. And that’s what I say to my students who are too tired to come to class after a bad day: come because Taiko will make you happy again afterwards.” outside,” Grete laughs.
An earlier performance by Tomodachi Taiko in Breda: