New York Chinese Cultural Center. Photo by Corky Lee
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The 33rd Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival was held at two locations this year including Ellis Island (on Saturday, May 5, 2012) and on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at the Brooklyn Archway in Dumbo, Brooklyn. We had an amazing time exhibiting at the festival and assisting the entire planning process with many enthusiastic volunteers who contributed a lot of time putting the festival together. We can’t wait for the next year!
Organized by the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans since 1979, this annual festival is the longest running and largest event celebrating pan-Asian heritage nationwide. It celebrates not only the value of families, but also our heritage which make us proud to be Asian American and Pacific Islander. The festival is free and open to the public and usually attracts more than 20,000 visitors every year. During the festival, attendees are treated with an impressive line-up of performances, fun activities and savory samples of Asian cuisine.
Emcee: Michelle Yu with Arthur Chien
Emcee CeFaan Kim
Emcee Bea Hundal with Air Tabigue. Photo by Corky Lee
On Ellis Island, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival invited a few talents to perform and celebrated the day with a lot of friends, family and international tourists. Two young singers Kirby Asunto and Pamela J Powell sang some beautiful melodies; City Wing Tsun Kung Fu and Byakkokan Dojo showcased and demonstrated their amazing skills; and then NYC Bhangra performed bhangra, an energetic Indian dance from the state of Punjab, India. It was just a wonderful day with amazing people!
Park Ranger of Ellis Island with NYC Bhangra. Photo by Corky Lee
Opening Ceremony by Kirby Asunto with Color Guards of Navy Operational Support Center NYC. Photo by Corky Lee
Held in the Archway of D.U.M.B.O. (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) in Brooklyn, NY, the 33rd Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival was packed with a full schedule of performances with lively entertainment including an opening ceremony by the Color Guards of Navy Operational Support Center NYC. Five amazing emcees took turns to host the festival and we are very honored to work with them all during the entire event including Arthur Chi’en, Bea Hundal, CeFaan Kim, Air Tabigue, and Michelle Yu. We also assisted to present the stage performance this year and worked with many outstanding Asian talents such as the martial arts and cultural demonstration by New York Chinese School Crimson Kings Drum, Chinese Freemason Athletic Club’s Lion Dance, and World Martial Arts Center. We also loved all the music performances by The Hsu-Nami, UZUHI, Mitchell Grey, Kirby Asunto, Pamela J Powell, Tiffany Ashley Viray, and Dulan Mountain Theater. And yes, audience got to see all types of dance presentations by Polynesian Dance, Bollywood Axion Dance, New York Chinese Cultural Center, Yosakoi Dance Project, and I LOVE DANCE’s Kpop Dance Group.
New York Chinese School Crimson Kings Drum
World Martial Arts Center
Polynesian Dance
Dulan Mountain Theater
I Love Dance KPop Dance Group
UZUHI. Photo by Corky Lee
Mitchell Grey
the Hsu-Nami
This year’s festival celebrated the colorfully diverse cultures of this region of the world, tasty eats (Taiwanese bubble tea, Japanese Sushi, Korean rice cakes and more), and valuable resources from different Asian community and organizations were all there in celebration of Asian American and Pacific American Heritage Month. What a great event with many beautiful volunteers!
For more info about the festival, please visit: http://www.capaonline.org
with the Hsu-Nami band & Three Sheet band. Photo by Corky Lee
AsianInNY booth
AsianInNY booth
Amazing Asian Community Supporters
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