Entertainment

Below is our 2025 schedule! Keep checking back for 2025 updates!

There will be lots of entertainment at the Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego and lots of incredible traditional and cultural talent, from drums and Lion dancers to Pacific Islander dances and traditional performances – there is something for everyone!

Line up subject to change without notice.

Additional activities will include family friendly fun in the Hall of Nations

ENTERTAINMENT BIOS

CK Lion Dance

A traditional Chinese dance in which the dancers are masked and costumed to resemble lions.

Imahen Taotao Tano

Imahen Taotao Tano, meaning Images of the people of the land, has been serving our great San Diego community for 26 years since 1999. Established as a nonprofit corporation, their mission is to preserve, perpetuate and promote the indigenous Chamorro culture through songs, dances, chants and weaving. Under the direction of Fafa’någue and Tribal Council member Rosemary Mantanona, recognized by the Guam legislature and the Honorary First Master of Chamorro Dance Saina Frank Rabon of Taotao Tano in Guam, their labor of love performing and educating our community is extensive from elementary and high schools, Colleges-SDSU, USD, UCSD, churches, law enforcement, city and county events, military both active and retired, Pacific Islander and Asian Pacific Islander festivals, multicultural events, foster children, Mother goose parade to name a few.

San Diego Korean American Folk Dance Association

San Diego Korean American Folk Dance Association ( SDKAFDA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2008. The group consists of lovers of the Korean traditional music and dance. Their performance, seen throughout the San Diego community, expresses the beauty and appreciation of the traditional Korean performing arts in hopes that it will become contagious to the audience. They will be performing the janggu drum dance and the Nanta drums.

Naad Studios

Pakistani Cultural Dance Performance

Pakistani cultural dances on folk music from different provinces and their regions with Pakistani cultural fancy dress show.

Lani Polynesian Dance

Lani Polynesian Dance is a small local halau based in San Diego under the direction of Cathy Celestial Manabat with the assistance of Lindsay Porcelo and Christian Delgado. Dancing to the beat of the drums, where every moment tells a tale of tradition and grace. They share the passion of dance with their keiki and wahine with every beat.

Karen Organization of San Diego

Karen Organization of San Diego is an ethnic community based organization serving refugees from Burma resettled in San Diego. San Diego is a new home for more than 2,000 refugees from Burma (also known as Myanmar), and “Karen” is one of the main ethnic groups from Burma. Youth dancers will be performing three Karen traditional dance, and they are elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Cici’s Dance Studio

Cici’s Dance Studio was founded in 2020. Located in Camel Valley, we offer over a 15 classes every week of various types of dances for all age groups. We are passionate about promoting Chinese culture and actively participate in community activities.

Kaibigan Dance Company

Kaibigan Dance Company (KDC) was founded in 2018 and comprised of working adults. KDC primarily focuses on Filipino Cultural Dance performance and training, but also performs other styles of dance. Past performances include the San Diego County Fail, Lunar New Year Festival and December Nights. KDC hopes you enjoy our performance setlist.

San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers

The Lucky Lion Dancers are the oldest lion dance group in San Diego, they are a volunteer-based team and are part of the non-profit Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. The Lucky Lion Dancers practice a traditional, Southern-style lion dance that is performed primarily during the Lunar New Year and for special occasions such as grand openings, festivals, and weddings. The lions are believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity. Please welcome the San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers!

Eva Mather

Eva Mather is an accomplished 12-year-old soprano from San Diego, California who has won many international vocal competitions and has performed at Carnegie Hall twice. The rising star sang the National Anthem for the Padres, Miramar Air Show, the Wave, the Gulls, SDSU Aztecs Men’s basketball, Del Mar Breeders’ Cup, LA Rugby FC, LA Kings, in addition to many cultural performances at festivals like CNY festival at Balboa Park and many API events in Southern California. Eva also loves musical theater and has performed in the Old Globe’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”in 2022.

Guo Yun Gu Zheng Studio

Cindy Chen founded Guoyun Guzheng Studio in San Diego in 2018, specializing in guzheng education for children and adults. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she has trained many students who excelled in competitions, entered top music conservatories, and performed professionally. Dedicated to promoting Chinese music, she actively participates in local performances, earning widespread acclaim. Her students have won awards in major U.S. and Chinese competitions, with several performing at Carnegie Hall.

Nartanah

NARTANAH’s performance brings to life Krishna as a cowherd boy holding a mountain, the one who has a dark complexion, wears an attire of yellow silk, the pretty son of Nanda who wandered in Vrindavan and wears the garland of Thulasi through vibrant dance, music, and storytelling. The spectacle also highlights his miracles, like lifting Govardhan Hill, who killed Kamsa and who lives in the mind of Meera, blending playfulness with spiritual depth. Through soulful music and rhythmic movements of Indian Classical Dance form BHARATANATYAM, the performance celebrates Krishna’s charm, innocence, and divinity.