Asian American Dance Showcase: Love & Unity
Presented by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center as part of the 25th annual United States of Asian America Festival.
Generations of Power
Asian American Dance Showcase
Love & Unity
Curated by Claudine Naganuma
Featuring Choreographers Chingchi Yu, Danny Nguyen, Yayoi Kambara, and Claudine Naganuma
Each choreographer offers the act of profound transformation of trauma and healing through dance. Yayoi Kambara explores the generational impact of the Executive Order 9066 and the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. She will also be offering a group piece performed by the talented dancers from School of the Art. Danny Nguyen addresses the impact of COVID-19 in Vietnam, and Claudine Naganuma shares work as a healing balm in the wake of Asian Hate. This choreographic celebration is to honor Asian American Dance Performances. Founded in 1974 in San Francisco and previously named the Asian American Dance Collective, it was the first organization in the country created to support Asian American dancers and choreographers in America. Its mission is to support the diverse cultural heritages through dance. Naganuma served as the Artistic Director for 12 years and it has been 20 years since she curated her last AADP showcase.
Curated by Claudine Naganuma, former Artistic Director of Asian American Dance Performances (formerly known as Asian American Dance Collective). There is no presenting organization dedicated to Asian American dance. On top of the pandemic, there is a need to support the voices of Asian Americans during this time when hate-crimes against Asian Americans have increased over a 100%. Dance as an artform is more than entertainment; it is a cultural tool that can help communities process our human experiences in order to make better sense of our complex lives.
Photo by Esperanza Urueña
Claudine Naganuma
Performed by dNaga Dance Company.
Sleeves of Love with poetry by Sonia Sanchez and original music by Joel Davel. Sleeves of Love is performed by Shosi Black, Mana Hayakawa, Janey Madamba, and myself, Claudine Naganuma.
Photo by Hying En Chen
Chingchi Yu
Independent choreographer and performer
The music for Chingchi’s dance is by Michael Stearns, Meredith Monk and U-Theatre.
Photo by Tommy Wu
Danny Nguyen
Performance by College of Alameda Modern Dance Club
The dance is performed to music is by Doan Vi Huong, played by Hugo Hieu Nguyen with poetry by Michael Masumoto and to a second piece of music called George’s Waltz by Shigeru Umebayashi.
Let’s all Hope is performed by Nash
Ang, Nan Busse, Anna Crodas, Tracey Enskip, Emily Mizuno, Andy Nguyen, Danny Nguyen, Mira Seagrave, Caroline Valentino, Gintara Wiguna, Cynthia Yu, and Haonan Zhu.
Photo by Cola Gaeta
Yayoi Kambara
Performed by KAMBARA+ and students of School of the Arts (SOTA)
Her first piece is performed and co-choreographed by students from the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. They are Evelina Erazo-Marenco, Annabelle Thugnet, Maxi Pelfrey, Talise Somme, Claire Welte, Ella Zimman. The music is by Erik “Clyde Dimension” Debono.
Her second piece, choreographed and directed by Yayoi, is a duet performed and co-choreographed by Sharon Kung and Erik Debono. Music composed by Roy Hirabayashi and performed by SJ Taiko.
