Entertainment
We have two stages of fantastic entertainment, filled all day long with cultural dances, martial arts, music, and so much more! Another highlight is our yummy cooking demo area! (Line up subject to change without notice)
Entertainment and Performer Descriptions
BAOBING STAGE
10:00AM – Blue Kanon
Blue Kanon is a Japanese Koto (Japanese harp/sitar) and Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) ensemble group. “Blue Kanon” also written in Japanese “舞流華音” represents “Dancing and fluent, flowing, and brilliant sound”. “Blue” alluding to the San Diego blue sky and ocean, too.
10:30AM – Naruwan Taiko
Wanting to spread the wide array of physical, mental, and social benefits of taiko to her local community, Diana Wu founded Naruwan Taiko and in early 2008, with the help of her collegiate taiko friends, she held a community workshop for San Diego with some taped tires and a once forgotten old lion dance drum with a growing hole in the center. Since that day, Naruwan has grown to over thirty performance members, met numerous community class attendees over the years, and thankfully, has been blessed with drums that don’t have holes in the center.
11:00AM – Chinese Dance Association
The Chinese Dance Association at UCSD was founded in 2009 by students who wanted to perform Chinese traditional dance on campus, and it has since grown from its traditional form to a fusion of Chinese and Western dance styles. Their members range from newcomers to experienced dancers, and their purpose is to create an atmosphere of artistic and creative expression for dancers and viewers alike, while promoting greater diversity and appreciation of Chinese culture through the art of dance.
11:15AM – SHANTI
Japanese community group performing world dances, including belly dancing.
11:30AM – Samahan Filipino Dance Company
Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts & Education Center is a non-profit organization, founded in 1974 by the late Dr. Lolita Dinoso Carter with the purpose of teaching the Filipino American youth how to perform Philippine folk dances and music, thus learning to appreciate their cultural heritage. For more than four decades, SAMAHAN has been providing the milieu to appreciate Philippine cultural arts through dance, music and living traditions, enriching cultural diversity in the community.
11:50AM – Southern Sea Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe
The Southern Sea Dragon and Lion Dance Association made its start in 2008 when three college friends came together with a mission to preserve the Chinese tradition of lion dancing. In folklore, the lion is believed to scare away evil spirits while bringing prosperity and good luck to those who pet/feed the lions as they walk by. Southern Sea performs an adaption of the Traditional Southern Lion Dance and entertains through a wide range of animalistic and acrobatic movements.
12:30PM – Expression Arts and Creations
Established in 2012, Expression Arts and Creations brings you the confluence of Indian Classical, Folk and Indian Contemporary styles of dance. Their multicultural group, based in San Diego, represents a rich heritage of dance spanning across several historical eras; from the jovial moods of Bhangra (North Indian Folk dance) to the classical tones of Bharatnatyam (Ancient Classical form from South India). They look forward to presenting the essence of colorful Indian culture through the language of dance.
1:00PM – Asian Story Theater
Asian Story Theater began in 1989, dramatizing Chinese folk tales as a project sponsored by the San Diego Chinese Center. In 1991 the company staged its first adaptation based on the 16th century fantasy novel Journey to the West, featuring the Monkey King. In 1995 the company incorporated as the Asian Story Theater, independent of the San Diego Chinese Center, to diversify programming and expand touring operations to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Asian Story Theater seeks to broaden multicultural awareness and understanding by dramatizing Asian and Pacific Island (API) stories, arts, and themes for family audiences.
1:30PM – United States Karate Academy
USKA is a San Diego based karate school led by world class instructors who have competed and won championships all over the world. Their vision is to spread the passion of martial arts to as many people as possible for the greater good of mankind. Through the values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, mentorship and passion, they strive to develop children and adults to be physically fit, mentally sharp, emotionally stable, and spiritually sound.
1:45PM – Chika & the Happy Hoopers
Chika aka HOOPLUR, born in Osaka Japan, pursued her dream and crossed the Pacific to find tranquility in dance and music. In Los Angeles, she was introduced to hooping and discovered that hooping was not just a sport – but a spiritual and life changing experience for the body and mind. Her energetic style of teaching is enlightening and her students will discover that hooping is not just a sport but a great step towards achieving a healthy mind and body.
2:00PM – San Diego Taiko
In the spring of 2004, Kathy Fuller moved to San Diego bringing with her a beautiful new set of five taiko made by Toshi Kato. Separately, John Iversen and flutist Akiko were laying plans to begin a taiko group in June of the same year. In the summer of 2004 they got together and San Diego Taiko was born. San Diego Taiko is a group dedicated to building member skills and a diverse performance repertoire. Their mission is to share our passion for taiko with the San Diego community through performances and workshops, and to provide an opportunity for local taiko players to hone their abilities.
2:30PM – Confucius Institute at San Diego State University
Confucius Institute at San Diego State University is a non-profit institution founded in March of 2009. Its mission is to promote awareness and learning of Chinese language and culture in Southern California. With its assistance and support, many public schools in this region had built a solid Mandarin program for students, as young kindergartners to high school students. CI/SDSU also generously supports local Asian communities throughout the years. Let’s welcome Managing Director of CI/SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng and the Six Arts Ambassadors.
3:00PM – Sabor Andaluz & India Andaluz
They will be performing Bollywood popular pieces including not only traditional Bollywood steps but also traditional folk and classical dances such as Kathak and Bharatanatyam. They also do Flamenco-Indian, Indian-Latin fusion pieces like “Senorita” so popular these days in India.
3:30PM – La Jolla Taiko
La Jolla Taiko is a community-based drumming group comprised of members of all ages and backgrounds. Developing artistry that is both traditional and contemporary, La Jolla Taiko strives to infuse their own diverse influence and instruments into a festive and entertaining experience.
4:00PM – Mochi Café
Mochi Cafe educates the public and creates awareness about Japanese culture and traditions through the presentation of performances. They perform several high-energy Japanese pop dances, as well as some occasional Korean pop.
4:30PM – San Diego Korean Pungmul Institute
They perform Korean traditional dance and music with two parts. In the first part, they tie their instruments to their bodies and play while dancing and interacting with the audience. In the second part, they sit down and play our instruments with more focus to the technical skills, rhythm and dynamics. Their instruments are mainly of drums and percussion with one wind instrument.
5:00PM – Kiki Yeung
Kiki Yeung is a versatile and multi-talented artist with more than ten years of experience in the entertainment industry. Her award winning one woman show “Second Chances For Grace” premiered at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in 2013 and is being remounted at the Tenth Avenue Theatre for the 2016 Festival. In San Diego, Kiki performs with Asian Story Theater and is a co-host for Asian Voices on COX 4SD, Time Warner Cable and tvK2. She has also appeared in commercials, voiceover and print for Super Supplement, Bank of America, Nintendo, Valley View Casino, Microsoft and the California Grape Commission among others.
5:20PM – RDM Odissi
Nilanjana Banerjee is a professional solo artist specializing in Odissi. For more than a decade, she has performed all over the country as a solo opening act for top Indian artists at major conventions, festivals, fundraisers and charity events. Nilanjana was the principal dancer at NJ based Rhythms of dance & music. She follows the Mahari dance tradition of Guru Muralidhar Majhi & Guru Mitra Purkayastha. She is currently running Odissi dance classes in San Diego for RDM West coast.
5:30PM – Hālau Hula Kahea O Kalaniana’ole
Hālau Hula Kāhea O Kalaniana’ole, under the direction of Aunty Kāhea Stinson. This Hālau 1st opened its doors here in Mira Mesa in 2012 and is a Traditional Hawaiian Hula school. Hula class instruction include boys/girls, men/women from ages 5 – and up. Aunty Kāhea’s Hula School specializes in Ancient and Modern Hula instruction while learning Hawaiian language, Hawaiian arts and crafts, and other cultural enrichment activities.
5:55PM – Dynamic Lion Dance
Dynamic Lion Dance is a Vietnamese lion dance team that was recently created. They do their own stunts and incorporate Kung Fu within their performance.
CHAI STAGE
10:00AM – Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy
Located in San Diego’s Pacific Beach neighborhood, Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy offers Transitional Kindergarten through grade 5 instruction in a unique and exciting environment for students. Students are immersed in Mandarin Chinese during portions of the school day, with some subjects taught in Mandarin, others in English. Since 2007, Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy has been a unique school that is helping the next generation learn a new language (or grow in their native language) and be better prepared to be part of the global economy as an adult.
10:30AM – Chan Family Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu
Choy Lee Fut is a comprehensive authentic system of Chinese kung fu that includes hand and weapon forms, qigong, wooden dummy training and lion dancing. This group is dedicated to spreading the Chan family lineage of Choy Lee Fut and helping spread the knowledge to as many people as possible.
11:00AM – Michael Jackson Tribute Artist – Rem J
They have performed recently at the Tet Festival at the OC Fair Grounds. They were schedule to perform at the Lunar Festival in San Diego on Jan.31 but got rained out. Performed at the Asian Pacific Lunar Festival in Riverside, Ca. on Jan.30th and many more.
11:15AM – Eklectik Dance Company
eKlectic Dance Company (EDC) was founded in 2013 and based at Studio K Dance & Fitness in Tierrasanta. EDC is primarily comprised of working professionals who have the passion and commitment to dance at local events through San Diego County. As the group name suggests, EDC performs a variety of dance styles including Hip Hop, Latin, Jazz, Bellydance, Bollywood and more.
11:30AM – Dance Arts Center
Home to children, teens and adults aspiring to be professionals and to those who simply wants to gain knowledge of the performing arts and benefit from the social, moral, mental and physical aspects of dance and exercise. Celebrating its 26 years, Dance Arts Center continue to attract people of all ages taking classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Philippine Folk, Polynesian, Voice and Piano lessons instructed by experience teacher with the direction of Tony Salamat, internationally trained and acclaimed dancer who for over 25 years taught, choreographed and performed with world class entertainers all over Europe.
12:30PM – Kids Fusion Band
The members of the Kids Fusion Band come from diverse cultures and background that came together as one, hence the name, “Kids Fusion”. What binds them together is their shared passion in music and their strong faith in God.
1:00PM – Jiang String Ensemble
The Jiang String Ensemble is a San Diego-based traditional Chinese music performance group led by instructor Rachel Jiang. Dressed in beautiful Chinese costume, they aim to bring the joy of traditional Chinese music to San Diego!
1:30PM – Buddhist Temple of San Diego Ondo Group
Wearing colorful yukata and happi coats, they demonstrate and invite audience participation to do some of our Japanese folk dances that they do at their Bon Odori Observance in August.
2:00PM – JING Institute of Chinese Martial Arts and Culture
The JING Institute of Chinese Martial Arts & Culture delights in sharing the joys of wushu, kung fu, and tai chi. Relax with the calm, fluid movements of Tai Chi, and enjoy the high energy and crisp power of Chinese Wushu! The JING Institute invites all good people to enjoy, experience, and benefit from the treasure that is Chinese Martial Arts.
2:30PM – Kembang Sunda
They are a Sundanese Gamelan ensemble that performs traditional and contemporary music from West Java, Indonesia. The ensemble consists of tuned hanging and rack gongs, metallophones, a wooden xylophone, drums and flute. They have been performing around San Diego since 2007, and actually performed at the very first Asian Cultural Festival!
3:00PM – Buddhist Temple of San Diego Taiko
Buddhist Temple of San Diego (BTSD) Taiko is an intergenerational taiko group made up of members of the Buddhist Temple of San Diego, starting from the age of 12 and older. The temple practices Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and has been a place of cultural preservation for Japanese and Japanese Americans in San Diego since 1926. BTSD Taiko was originally founded in the 1980s and after a hiatus the group reconvened in 2007. The goal of its drumming is not necessarily perfection for performance, but to put into practice mindfulness, oneness and gratitude.
3:30PM – Kung Fu San Soo Chula Vista
Kung Fu San Soo Chula Vista a traditional school since 1979 teaching the ancient and original style of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung Kung Fu San Soo brought to America by Grandmaster Chin Siu Dek commonly known as Jimmy H. Woo.
4:00PM – Xingjian Dance Studio
Chinese folk dances from different ethnic groups. Most performance have been learning Chinese folk dances for 4- 8 years. The pieces have won numerous Dance competition awards (e.g. Spotlight, StarQuest).
4:30PM – Bohua Youth Group
The Bohua Youth Group is a musical ensemble comprised of young teenagers who are also members of the Bohua Academy of Musical Arts. Their mission is to spread awareness of Chinese culture and music, and inspire others with their music. Through participating in community events, charity performances, partnerships with Bohua Academy, and independently hosted community concerts, the Bohua Academy Youth Group actively assists in building and growing the close knit community of Chinese cultural appreciation.
5:00PM – Karen Organization of San Diego
Traditional dance performances from Karen ethnicity of Burma. Karen Organization of San Diego has performed at Asian Cultural Festival since 2012. Also, their dance pieces have been performed at various community events, such as Sea World Lunar Festival, Karen New Year, Lao New Year, Cambodian New Year, and World Refugee Day.
5:20PM – The Vietnamese Community of San Diego
The Vietnamese Community of San Diegi was founded in 2006. Its mission is to preserve the heritage Vietnamese culture through performing arts in the diversity community events. This dance is about the Vietnamese highland girls’ costume and tools in the old time. They happily enjoy their evening after a long working day.”
5:30PM – San Diego Kimono Club
Formed in 2013, the San Diego Kimono Club is a gathering of Japanese women who love kimonos. Some brought their own from Japan, others preciously handed down from their mothers, or newly purchased. The like-minded ladies came together seeking the opportunities to wear their gorgeous kimonos, and soon they are out on the town and on stage introducing the art of kimonos in San Diego.