Entertainment Schedule 2024

Posted by admin on May 14, 2024 in Recent Work

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

Line up subject to change without notice.

ENTERTAINMENT BIOS

12:10 – 12:30 PM Eva Mather

12:30 – 1:00 PM Emma Malea Tjandrawidjaja (National Anthem) then Ceremony

Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja is an Indonesian American actress who lives in Los Angeles. Her acting in A24’s feature film After Yang (2021) opposite Colin Farrell gains rave reviews from critics such as Awards Watch, The Hollywood Reporter and Indie Wire. She is also known for her recurring guest star roles on iCarly (2021) and on Disney Channel shows Coop and Cami Ask the World (2018) and Raven’s Home (2017).

Malea is also a singer. Her National Anthem video in LA Galaxy game went viral in 2018 and was included in Google Year in Search in 2018. She was cast as Molly in the star studded Annie musical at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2018 and her performance gained great reviews from media such as LA Times, Times Squares Chronicles and Broadway World. She was invited to sing And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going with Tony and Grammy awards winner, Jennifer Holliday, on Good Morning America and was invited to audition on American Idol and was awarded with golden ticket even though she was too young to compete.

Malea speaks English, Mandarin, Indonesian and Spanish. She plays piano, violin, guitar and ukulele. Malea also loves contortion, gymnastics, dancing and soccer.”

1:00 – 1:30 PM San Diego Wushu Center

San Diego Wushu Center is a martial arts center that teaches contemporary and traditional wushu. Wushu, known as kung fu in the west, is a collection of Chinese martial arts that emphasizes speed, flexibility, power and acrobatic jumps that has been made popular by Jet Li. At SDWC, the primary focus is on the development of the student’s personal and physical growth through wushu tournaments at the local, national and international levels. Our goal is to promote wushu through local performances that showcases many different weapons and styles.

1:30 – 2:00 PM Xingjian Dance Studio

Xingjian Dance Studio, established in 2003 by the esteemed dancer and educator Ms. Xingjian Liu, has been a pioneer in providing comprehensive and structured Chinese dance education. Offering a diverse range of courses including Chinese dance, ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop, and specialized skill training, the studio caters to students of all ages and levels. Over the years, Xingjian Dance Studio has nurtured hundreds of exceptional talents, from preschoolers to adults, fostering multiple renowned competitive teams. The studio’s commitment to excellence has been recognized through its participation in numerous regional, national, and international dance competitions, where it has consistently garnered accolades. Today, we invite you to experience the artistry and passion behind our award-winning performances.

2:00 – 2:30 PM Kaibigan Dance Company

Founded in 2018, Kaibigan Dance Company is an adults-only amateur team based on Tierra Santa. KDC focuses on Filipino Cultural Dances and have performed at numerous events throughout San Diego county including San Diego County Fair, December Nights and Lunar New Year Festival just to name a few. KDC is looking forward to performing at the Asian Cultural Festival.

2:30 – 2:40 PM AYM Model Team 

“AmeriCal Youth Model Team is a youth modeling group that blends American and Chinese influences, dedicated to promoting Chinese culture and fashion. Established in 2014, our team comprises members aged between 5 and 18 years old. We pride ourselves on performing with a positive attitude, actively engaging with our community, and showcasing the beauty of Chinese culture.

Throughout the year, we put on numerous shows that blend elements of fashion and culture. Our primary mission is to empower teenagers by boosting their self-confidence, nurturing their sense of style, and encouraging continuous self-improvement. Our training programs emphasize etiquette, body training, and the development of movement and rhythm skills, fostering a holistic sense of self-assuredness in our young participants.

In addition to fashion events, AmeriCal Youth Model Team models enthusiastically participate in various charity initiatives, including the House of China and Spring Festival Gala, United Nations Art Festival, brand clothing shows, and more. We are passionate about representing both the elegance of Chinese culture and the dynamism of the fashion world in our performances.”

3:00 – 3:30 PM Cici’s Dance Studio

Cici’s Dance Studio has been serving the Chinese community in SD since early 2021.  Based in Camel Valley, they offer various dance lessons for all ages. All classes are taught in small groups. Today, they brought a very exciting Chinese dance performance. Hope everyone enjoys it!

3:30 – 4:00 PM NAAD Studios 

4:00 – 4:30 PM JING Institute of Chinese Martial Arts & Culture

The JING Institute of Chinese Martial Arts & Culture delights in sharing the joys of Wushu (武术） / Kung Fu and Tai Chi （太极).  The JING Institute invites all good people to enjoy, experience, and benefit from the treasure that is Chinese Martial Arts. 

4:30 – 5:00 PM 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.   

5:00 – 5:30 PM Fan Dance Academy 

Fan Dance Academy is specialized in Chinese classical dance and pop dance teaching and choreography. The traditional Chinese dance elements are revitalized here through the fusion with modern aesthetics to tell good stories.

5:30 – 6:00 PM SD Lao Heritage Group

Nome Thongphachanh has been volunteering as a traditional dance instructor for San Diego community youth since 2012. In 2016, San Diego (SD) Lao Heritage collaborated with Lao Heritage Foundation D.C., held the first San Diego Summer Camp for traditional dance, music, and culture. Our mission is cultural preservation through traditional dance, music arts. The two performances through live traditional music and dance choreographed by Nome: 1. Sao Lao Lan-Xang (young ladies of “Millions of Elephants” gathering to pick flowers, preparing to honor Lao New Year. 2. Lum-Thoeuy (traditional folk story telling musical rhythm).

6:00 – 6:30 PM Debarati Kundu – Bharatnatyam

Debarati Kundu is a practitioner of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, originating from the southern part of the country. She has been a student of the Indian classical dance forms from the tender age of six. Currently, she is training under Guru Srimati Indu Santhosh, based in Bangalore, India. Debarati is also passionate about spreading the joy of dancing to under-privileged children and impacting their lives. She is currently employed as an engineer at Qualcomm, San Diego.

6:30 – 7:00 PM San Diego Korean Pungmul Institute

San Diego Korean Pungmul Institute (SDKPI) is a non-profit organization composed of volunteer elementary-, middle-, and high school students, college students, working professionals, and parents dedicated to spreading Korean traditional culture in Southern California. The group has performed all over Southern California at parades, festivals, weddings, conferences, schools, and all kinds of special events. SDKPI strives to provide a space for those interested in Korean traditional culture and to make a positive impact on the community through music and dance.

7:00 – 7:30 PM Mochi Cafe

Mochi Cafe was formed in 2009 with the mission to bring a taste of Akihabara’s iconic maid cafes to San Diego, and to appreciate, celebrate, and educate the community on this unique aspect of Japanese pop culture. Their colorful maids and butlers bring Japan’s maid cafe scene to life here in California. Whether playing games with guests or dancing on stage, Mochi brings a welcoming and charming atmosphere everywhere they go.