Staff
Bruce "Mui" Ghent, Executive Director
Executive Director
Bruce "Mui" Ghent started formal dance training and martial arts training at the age of 18 while attending Orange Coast Jr. College. He continued his martial arts training under the tutelage of Hall Of Fame Kung Fu Master, Kam Yuen, and National Tae Kwon Do Champion Roland Ferrer, then returned to college and ultimately earned his degree in Modern Dance/Choreography from CalArts in 1990. He went on to perform with notable dance and theater companies such as Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Comotion Dance Theater, Redwood Empire Ballet Company, and Berkeley Repertory Theater.
In 1993, he began his study of Taiko (Japanese Drumming) under Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, where, after becoming a principal member of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, he toured internationally and performed with some of the great masters of Traditional Japanese Folk Music. After his tenure with San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Mr. Ghent created and directed Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble with whom he performed with until 2004. This touring professional taiko ensemble, which received rave reviews from the LA Times, focused on progressive and theatrical work including collaborations with renowned choreographers and musicians including Sara Shelton Mann, Marcus Shelby, Robert Moses’ KIN, Vanessa Vo, and Dance Brigade.
As a producer and director, Mr. Ghent created Nishikaze Taiko with the aid of UCLA Kyodo Taiko for Downtown Disneyland from 2002-2004 and directed/choreographed the opening act for Genentech’s National Sales Convention in 2005, with Matsuriza Taiko of Disney World and former members of the champion Beijing Wushu team. Mr. Ghent serves as resident Taiko Director/Instructor/Composer at Dance Mission for the youth dance and taiko group, GRRRL Brigade and the professional dance theater and taiko group, Dance Brigade, for whom his work was nominated for a 2000-2001Isadora Duncan Award. In 2007, he started the beginnings of his taiko school, known as Maikaze (Dancing Wind) Daiko. This vibrant taiko group produces the SF World Percussion Arts Festival, which showcases some of the top local and international world percussion artists today.
As a professional Taiko Artist, Mr. Ghent has performed and taught internationally including as a Guest Instructor for the North American Taiko Conference. As a Taiko based composer, his work has been presented in Cuba, the Middle East, Japan, and throughout the US. His production, “Maikaze Daiko & Friends”, appeared weekly at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco from 2014-2015, which showcased visiting luminaries such as Kenny Endo and Riley Lee. In 2013, Mr. Ghent was awarded as a “Distinguished Alumni” of San Francisco Taiko Dojo.
Connect With Us
