Asian Heritage Festival
Saturday, May 1, 2010; 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Join us at the Blue Valley Library for our fifth annual fun-filled event for the entire family as we celebrate and learn more about Asian culture with music, dance, crafts, art, and food. All ages are welcome. For more information, please call (913) 495-3850.
Performances 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kansas City Kendo Club
Kendo is the modern art of Japanese swordsmanship derived from the sword skills by the samurai of the 12th century called Kenjutsu. Kendo practitioners train using bamboo swords and wear a helmet and body armor that allows for full-contact sparring with low risk of injury. The current practice incorporates spirit, sword and body in unison to successfully complete an attack.
Asian Textiles
Appreciating Asian cultures and their long history of weaving, dyeing, and fabric design, Jamie Root will introduce students to the textiles of Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Students will see slides and examples of fabrics from these countries. Information about the Hmong, Kimono, rice-paper cloth, invention of the spinning wheel in China, development of silk, and sericulture today will also be included.
Natanan Indian Dance Group
Bharata Natyam is one of the six major Indian Classical dance forms originated and preserved in southern India. Based on Indian Classical Music, Bharata Natyam has three major aspects. Nritta (Dance), Nritya (Dance with Expressions), and Abhinaya (Expressions). Traditionally performed in temples as part of daily rituals, the songs are primarily devotional. The dance involves intricate rhythmic patterns; while expressions involve a storytelling using a specific technique of hand gestures and body language. A student thus has to go through rigorous training for a number of years to learn the basic principles of this art form. Maithili Parikh takes pride in teaching this art in its purest form at her school, Natanan, in Overland Park. She inherits this art of dance and her teaching skills from her father, the late Guru Nana Kasar, who has been a renowned teacher in India.
Performances 2-4 p.m.
Stories from Asia
Teaching Artist Andi Meyer brings to life the longtime favorite Asian and Asian-American stories. Her captivating tales combine music, and movement reflecting the rich, diverse folklore from Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan, and the Philippines.
Chinese Folk Dance Group
This Chinese Folk Dance group is active in serving the community and promoting Chinese Folk Dance culture. Today they will perform several dances native to the Republic of China, including the Cup dance, Lotus Flower dance, Sieve dance, Lantern dance, Golden Hoop dance, and the Ribbon Fan dance. The group comes to us today courtesy of the Ethnic Enrichment Commission and is led by Hoi Kei Au, dance instructor.
Taiwanese Association of Greater Kansas City
The Taiwanese Association of Greater Kansas City (TAKC) will first introduce Taiwan Indigenous Peoples’ culture and their costumes. Taiwan indigenous peoples, comprising roughly 2 percent of Taiwan’s total population, or nearly 500,000, belong to 14 officially acknowledged tribal groups. Each group is located geographically in a different part of Taiwan and has its own distinct culture and costume. The Taiwan tea-picking dance is a traditional culture of Hakka in Taiwan. Many Hakka people live in hilly areas and work in tea growing and tea-picking. They have developed a culture related to tea-picking and integrated it into the music and dance. The dance is performed to show joyfulness of picking tea leaves.
Laura Manivong
Caught in the crossroads of history, can a boy keep his hope—and his sister—alive?
Meet debut author Laura Manivong, Emmy-winning producer at FOX 4 TV, as she talks about her critically acclaimed new novel for young readers, ESCAPING THE TIGER, from HarperCollins Children’s Books. The story is based loosely on her husband’s family, all Johnson County residents, who escaped from Communist Laos in the mid 80’s. After spending time in Thailand’s Na Pho refugee camp, they immigrated to Kansas City in 1989 under political asylum and became United States citizens. Books will be available for purchase and signing during a meet and greet with the author.
Schedule
Chinese Youth Drum Ceremony (Outside main entrance)
11 a.m.
Arts Displayed and Ceramics Decoration (Outside main entrance)
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Asian Food Sampling (Meeting room)
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Origami (Outside storytime room)
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For Teens: Mehndi Tattoos (teen gaming area)
11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For Children: Kamishibai Storytimes and Crafts
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Performances in the Gallery
11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Chinese Watecolor Painting and Calligraphy Lessons (Storytime room)
1 p.m. (calligraphy) and 1:30 p.m. (water colors)
Up, Up & Away!
John and Johnna Perry, owners of Up, Up & Away! Balloon Artistry, will install a parade style Asian Dragon created with over 3,000 all natural, biodegradable balloons. John and Johnna are award-winning, world record holding balloon artists who have traveled the world creating large scale balloon installation pieces and are excited to bring their unique style of balloon artistry to their home community!
