Arts and Culture

Asian Pacific Heritage Festival Celebrated in San Rafael

Published

5 years ago

May 10, 2019

The 29th Asian Pacific Heritage Festival was celebrated on May 3, 2019, at the Marin YMCA in San Rafael. The Festival was hosted by the Asian American Alliance of Marin. Teresa Ford was the MC.

The festival began with the audience participating in a Tai Chi and a Qigong practice. Tai Chi Ch’uan is the ancient art of “Meditation in Motion”, and helps people to relax and develop their physical and mental awareness.

The Marin Chinese Cultural Association Lion Dance Team performed their Lion Dance. The team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a student troupe dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of Chinese culture through the traditional Lion Dance. They have performed for celebrations and occasions in the Asian community and at the Marin County Fair.

Wayne Huey, an artist with the Red Panda Acrobats, performed his acts.

Korean School of Marin, located in San Rafael, performed their Korean drumming dances.

Scott Metcho and students from the Bay Marin Aikido, located in San Rafael, demonstrated their martial arts. The school is headed by Hans Goto, a 7th-degree Black Belt with over 40 years of experience in martial arts. Goto was the first non-Japanese citizen to undergo the intensive traditional in-residence training in Iwama, Japan.

The Filipino Americans of Northern California Organization (FANCO) performed two traditional Filipino songs. The association strives to highlight the Filipino identity, culture, and values through participation in their activities and civic involvement in the community.

Joseph Vigneri, an instructor, and two students, from the 10,000 Victories Kung Fu and Tai Chi School performed their martial arts. Vigneri has over 10 years of intensive training from Sifu Jensen, the head instructor and school founder, and runs children’s and adult classes throughout Marin.

Khun Nai Pat did an Indian Dance. Pat immigrated from Thailand 30 years ago and dances as a soloist in belly dance, Bollywood dance, Indian fusion and flamenco dance. Pat teaches Bollywood and belly dance through SF County Wellness Programs.

Judy Huang, of Chalo Let’s Dance, also performed an Indian dance. Huang has eight years of Indian dance training, and has performed with the Duniya Dance & Drum Company. She currently teaches Bollywood dance at the Berkeley YWCA and performs at public and private events.

Sonoma County Taiko performed a dynamic and enthusiastic Taiko drumming performance. The group is 20 years old and has evolved into a very professional performance group.

The festival ended with a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Asian Pacific Heritage Month, in May, is a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It was first proposed in 1977 to observe the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the construction and completion of the transcontinental railroad, mostly with Chinese immigrants, on May 10, 1869.

For more information on the Asian American Alliance of Marin, go to their website at aaamarin.org.

Godfrey Lee

Posts by Godfrey Lee

Arts and Culture

Richmond Preps for Full Weekend of Cinco de Mayo Festivities

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival. The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

Published

18 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Scene from the 2023 Cinco de Mayo parade from Richmond to San Pablo. Photo courtesy The Richmond Standard.

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

Cinco de Mayo festivities in Richmond and San Pablo are some of the bests in Bay, and organizers say that tradition will be alive and well at this weekend’s annual parade and festival.

The action kicks off Saturday, May 4, with the 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Richmond/San Pablo Peace & Unity Parade. The parade of floats, performances, and community organizations starts at 10 a.m. at 24th Street and Barrett Avenue and Richmond and ends at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1845 Church Lane in San Pablo.

The parade’s Grand Marshall this year will be community organizer Diego Garcia, owner of Leftside Printing.

The festivities continue Sunday with the Cinco de Mayo Festival along 23rd Street, which last year drew over 100,000 people, according to the 23rd Street Merchants Association. This year’s festival will again run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the intersections of Rheem Avenue and Clinton Avenue. It will feature two entertainment stages, one sponsored by La Raza 93.3 FM at 23rd and Rheem, and another sponsored by Radio Lazer FM at 23rd and Clinton.

Both events are important for the city and the region’s Latino community.

San Pablo Mayor Genoveva Calloway, who co-chairs the parade alongside John Marquez, president of the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees, says Saturday’s festivities are about bringing the Richmond and San Pablo communities together in unity.

“This truly connects the spectators and people in the parade as one,” Calloway said. “The parade showcases the real communities of Richmond and San Pablo – our nonprofits, schools, horse riders, classic cars and trucks, our local businesses. All of these people represent the heartbeat of our community.”

Rigo Mendoza, vice president of the 23rd Street Merchants Association, said that at its heart, Richmond’s Cinco de Mayo Festival celebrates the date the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

But John Marquez started up the popular festival to bring the community together and also to exhibit the community’s businesses and culture to visitors, Mendoza said. The gathering was also a way to promote peace in the community.

Oakland Post

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Art

Mario Van Peebles’ ‘Outlaw Posse’ Screened at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre

Published

19 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Film director Mario Van Peebles, who also stars in “Outlaw Posse,” appeared at a press conference held at RBA Creative on MacArthur Boulevard hosted by the Oakland International Film Festival. Photo By Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland International Film Festival hosted a screening of “Outlaw Posse” at the Grand Lake Theatre on Monday. Special guests included director/actor Mario Van Peebles and his co-star, Oakland native Scytorya Rhodes. The film is Peebles’ second western, the first being ‘Posse,’ 13 years ago. Filmmaker Van Peebles shared his passion for independent artistry and producing projects with his son, Mandela, who also starred in the film, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Cedric the Entertainer. Next week, The Post will publish an in-depth interview featuring Peebles’ reflections on his work, future projects, and continuing his father’s legacy and Rhodes on her grandfather, a real-life cowboy.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Arts and Culture

Kedrick Armstrong: New Music Director for the Oakland Symphony

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director. In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Kedrick Armstrong is the new music director for the Oakland Symphony. Photo credit Scott Chernis.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director.
In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.

Armstrong is the successor to previous music director and Conductor Michael Morgan, who passed away in 2021 after a 30-year tenure at the Symphony.

Armstrong will open the Oakland Symphony 2024-2025 season on October 18.

Armstrong, who is 29 and hails from Georgetown, South Carolina, is currently the creative partner and principal conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.

The Chicago Tribune has praised Armstrong for his ability to “simply let the score speak for itself.” He enjoys a wide range of repertoire, spanning early music to premiering new works, using his joy and curiosity for all music to cultivate understanding and collaboration within diverse communities.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new music director of the Oakland Symphony,” Armstrong said. “As a Black conductor, I find it humbling to stand on the shoulders of both Michael Morgan and Calvin Simmons,” the most recent and the first African American music directors of the Symphony, respectively.

Armstrong led three programs at the Symphony between 2022 and early 2024, which showcased his broad knowledge of the classical repertoire and enthusiasm for spotlighting diverse voices.
On his Oakland Symphony subscription debut on Feb. 16, Armstrong led the world premiere of “Here I Stand: Paul Robeson,” an oratorio by Carlos Simon on a libretto by Dan Harder, commissioned by the Oakland Symphony.

Armstrong was selected unanimously by the Oakland Symphony’s board of directors and musicians after an extensive two-year search. “The search committee was overwhelmed by Kedrick’s scholarship and curiosity about all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to gospel and hip-hop,” said. Dr. Mieko Hatano, executive director of the Oakland Symphony. “We are thrilled to have him join us at the Oakland Symphony.”