Show some love to freelancers this month

Fe bruary is the month we acknowledge our loves and friendships, but there is another special group of people we must show gratitude to this month — freelancers.

According to the National Today website, Freelance Writers Appreciation Week is celebrated the second week of February each year.

I have some talented freelancers who certainly deserve some recognition this month. Every month, in fact.

While I may be the backbone of the paper as editor, the freelancers I work with certainly can be considered the rib cage. Without them, many of the wonderful stories you read would not be in publication.

I have a sentimental story for how each of them became acquainted with me and/or the newspaper. As a journalist, it has been instilled in me since Day 1 of Jschool to always report without bias. But I will admit, I am biased when it comes to my freelancers — nobody can tell a story like they do.

My freelancers are such a bright and talented group of people. Each have their own style in their writing talent and it is a lot of fun to work with each of them to develop it — them learning from me, and me learning from them.

I do assign stories to them sometimes, but I particularly enjoy working with them on their unique story ideas. Some of these begin with a simple something they observed in Denver and want to explore further or a casual introduction to someone they find particularly interesting. It is my freelancers’ intrigue that make the papers shine.

My freelancers work hard, and are so dedicated to storytelling and ensuring their written word is the best that it can be for every story they write, every month. They spend hours interviewing sources, researching information or news tips, gathering photos and in some cases, attending events.

So every time you see “Special to Colorado Community Media” on one of the stories, remember that it is the tireless work of one of my freelancers who brought that story to you.

Christy Steadman is the editor of the Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Pro le monthly publications, and the Denver Herald.

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Ensemble to display their skill at University of Denver

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

O the west coast of Japan lies the island of Sado, home to luscious green forests, steep oceanside cli s and the most renowned taiko drummers in the world.

Early mornings on the island, residents are greeted with the deep, thumping sound of drumming as they make their way to work and school. e radiating sound of a gong can be heard for miles as the performers practice throughout the day to perfect their ancient craft. e drumming of the KODO Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble has been the soundtrack to the lives many Sado people as they go about their days for more than four decades.

Sado Island is home to the Kodo Apprentice Center, the home for new hopefuls to complete a two-year apprenticeship program before becoming members of the o cial ensemble. Kodo apprentices live communally at the center, where they learn taiko, dance, song, bamboo ute and other traditional Japanese arts. ey live a very minimalist lifestyle, rid of distractions so they can concentrate on their rigorous training. Cell phones, computers and dating are strictly prohibited for apprentices while living on Sado.

ough the ensemble performs with various instruments during its shows, the taiko are at the forefront of a Kodo performance. Taiko drums were introduced to Japan in the sixth century CE through Korean and Chinese cultural in uence along the Silk Road, a panEurasian trade system that lasted for nearly two millennia. Contemporarily used as traditional performance instruments, taiko have been used throughout Japanese history — during wartimes to organize troops, at royal processions, throughout religious rituals and sometimes as personal instruments. Performance taiko drumming evolved in the mid-20th century, becoming popular at Japanese festivals to entertain laypeople. Later in the 1980s, taiko performance would become popularized worldwide with traveling ensembles like Kodo. e Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble will be performing at the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver on Feb. 18 and 19. Kodo will perform its One Earth Tour entitled “Tsuzumi.” e performance will be a highlight of Kodo’s home on Sado Island, sharing the tale of its ancient history and tranquil landscape.

“Kodo One Earth Tour: Tsuzumi is the rst production in a series of commemorative works we created for Kodo’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2021,” said Director Yuichiro Funabashi in a news release. “ e theme of this work is our home base, Sado Island. With its lush nature and distinct history, this special place has been the starting point for Kodo’s diverse local and international activities for the past four decades. Conjured and honed on Sado, Kodo’s sound is like no other. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy this performance and the visceral sound of Kodo’s taiko.”