MoaBlog

An interesting blend of cultures took place at last night's free outdoor concert at Moab's Old City Park. The Shidara taiko drumming group from Japan performed, as did a group of Navajo dancers from New Mexico. The two groups shared their love for music and cultural tradition in front of an appreciative audience of several hundred people seated on the grass.

After eating a breakfast of scrambled eggs (top photo), 5-year-old London rode the school bus to the local elementary school and attended her first day of kindergarten yesterday. The bottom photo shows her and a few of her classmates on the playground during recess in the afternoon.

The renowned Shidara taiko drumming group from Toei, Japan peformed back-to-back in-school assemblies for nearly 1,500 schoolchildren and teachers in Moab yesterday. The highly entertaining musicians played with amazing expertise and precision, and the audiences greatly enjoyed both performances. Tonight, the group will perform a sold-out concert at the high school and then stay one more night in Moab before traveling back to California to continue their six-city U.S. tour. Check out the group's website at www.shidara.co.jp for more information.