WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PENINSULA SCENE

10/27/2024

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PENINSULA SCENE

By Gerrye Wong October 27, 2024

The International Performing Arts of America group held their annual gala dance festival last week before a sell-out audience at the beautiful California Theater in downtown San Jose. As usual the enthusiastic audience was thrilled to see before them a dance extravaganza of top notch entertainment, as once conceived by the late Ann Woo. She devoted her life with the mission to bring Chinese cultural dance to American audiences while encouraging younger generations to take lessons to continue these dances from China. Once a dancer herself, she was dedicated to educate American audiences to this fine art coming from China. Thank you to President Andy Jian, together with Secretary Lucy Lu and Treasurer Christina Cheng who have kept this non profit going as the festival was again a most successful evening devoted to dance.

While the IPAA programs were mostly of Chinese origin in the past 20 years when started, the event now casts a much more international focus. Program Directors should be commended for bringing together a very professional show beautifully choreographed. Artistic Director Yang Yang Lyon truly knows how to channel the creative forces of IPAA into a unified artistic vision. Since 2018 Yang has assumed responsibility for IPAA and operational direction, leading the dance troupe successfully through the Covid crisis, while enabling the artists to connect with the community through online chats, benefit performances and community virtual work-outs.

General Director Dennis Nahat, came from his residence in Las Vegas to work again with the troupe, as he has done for the past decades. Dancing himself since age of eight, he performed with the City Center Jeoffrey Ballet followed by the American Ballet Theater as a principal. We enjoyed his artistic talents when he served as Artistic Director of Ballet San Jose. During that time he brought the troupe to China where he created two new productions YULAN and TERRA COTTA NUTCRACKER, two multimedia international cultural exchange extravaganzas both making their US premiere in 2013.

General Director Dennis Nahat

Production and Lighting Director Kenneth Keith supported this festival, coming all the way from his studios in Lexington, Michigan. For the past nine years, he has served as lighting designer for the Alabama School of Fine Arts, but his career has spanned over three continents for 51 years.

The show was a feast for dance and music lovers with performances coming from many ethnic sectors. Following the opening Chinese classical Dace presentation titled Awakening, Opera selections by Puccini were performed by Christa and Marco Headshot. These were followed by Hansamo (Pangut) which is a traditional Korean performing art that combines drumming, music and dance, a Miao classic Chinese folk dance, and The Red Thistle, a Scottish traditional ballroom Country Dance featuring lively jogs, reels and elegant strathspeys, The audience came alive when a Hip Hop rendition of Bring It On came next inspired by the hit movie with show-stopping stunts and stage full of spirit.

The South American Tango, performed in a modern ballet style by soloist Astrid Arvelo, was mesmerizing as was the traditional dance from the Philippines with dancers featuring the use of oil lamps on their heads and moving bamboo poles between which the dancers danced in exact rhythm. A performance of Latin American show dance, displayed the vibrancy of ballroom culture as expertly performed by Vladimir Timofeev and Evgeniia Florinskaia contributed to the international theme of the program. Life Like Summer Flowers closed the show with the entire Chinese classical dance troupe on stage which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience as all the performers reappeared to take their well deserved bows. I liked the balance of dances from different places and continents which gave this 2024 International performing Arts of America Festival a wider breadth of dance culture. It was a shame it could only be held for one night because this was a program that would be truly enjoyed by many more citizens of Santa Clara Valley.

OCA HONORS COMMUNITY LEADERS

Representatives of supporting organizations receive commendations from State of California Chairman Aimee Yan presents to Chi Am Circle Founder Gerrye Wong

Aimee Yan, President of Organization of Chinese Americans San Mateo Chapter put together a jam packed program for her annual dinner attended by over 200 people last week. Held at the South San Francisco Grand Palace Restaurant, she honored youth who had participated in OCA programs and welcomed different organizations which had supported this event with California state certificates.

David Louie leads fireside chat with Honorees Abigail Hing Wen, San Francisco State University Professor Russell Jeung and Momentum CEO David Mineta

Emcee David Louie held a simulated fireside chat with all of the four honorees who were Abigail Hing Wen, Russell Jeung, Connie Young Yu and David Mineta. Abigail told about her book series titled Love in Taipei telling of the youth summer cultural program once sponsored by the Taiwan government. Professor Russell Jeung of San Francisco State College University told of cases of anti- Asian hate he has come across and his activities within the Chinese community to help combat these happenings. His work with Asian youth is well known for his activism and community spirit.

Connie Young Yu speaks during fireside chat with David Louie. Introducing Connie Young Yu OCA leaders of Gala Dinner event

Connie Young Yu spoke of her passion for Chinese American history which was instilled by her own family history dating back to the early 1900s in San Jose’s Heinlenville Chinatown. With the privilege of being the one who introduced Connie, I cited my experience working with her on the Angel Island Immigration Station Boards so help restore the immigration barracks and hospital to share the detentions and harsh treatment Chinese immigrants faced from 1910-1940 trying to enter American shores. I also lauded her work which I was privileged to join her on, to encourage the City of San Jose to announce a Resolution of Apology to the Chinese citizens from the mid-1800s to the next 100 years for the indignities and harsh treatments inflicted by the City during those times. This was only the second city in the US to present such a Resolution of Apology to acknowledge and apologize for these past instances of the city’s discriminative actions.

Honoree David Mineta explains his organization’s mission Chinese Historical & Cultural Project members Teddy Sue, Lee Liu Chin, Gerrye Wong & Liz Lee

David Mineta, President & CEO of Momentum for Health in San Jose, spoke earnestly of his desire to work with families and youth in giving help when needed for emotional hardships. Son of former Congressman Norman Mineta, he cited sad examples of his own family members who had faced such emotional traumas that they took their own lives. These personal experiences has made him feel even stronger to bring help to so many of our young people in this community looking for needed assistance with their problems. His organization’s theme “Bringing wellness together” simply says what David Mineta’s work is all about, added moderator David Louie.

2023 Honoree Anni Chung & MC David Louie OCA member Billy Shu, Gerrye Wong and Mrs. David Mineta and daughter

The usual fundraising activities of raffle drawings, silent and live auction prizes filled the evening’s program for the audience which included many area government leaders and office holders. I was impressed with the breadth of the honorees experiences, and only wished the audio system had been louder for all of us to hear clearly what the honorees were sharing with us. I implore Asian dinner audiences need to be more attentive to the programs the hard working committee of any large event presents. Their lack of courtesy to speakers on stage can ruin a very interesting program put together by dedicated volunteers. So bouquets to President Aimee Yan and her team for a difficult task well done. I applaud David Louie for his inciteful interview questions, and the restaurant for an excellent dinner, but they need a better equipped sound system for evening speakers to have a more attentive listening audience. If you believe in OCA’s mission as I do to bring attention and activities centered around Chinese American history and culture, visit their website to learn where to join and sign up.