Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jenny Chen
Asian American Artists Showcase Work at Community Foundation Fundraiser
On March 17, the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region hosted a star studded celebration to honor 40 years of giving to nonprofits across the nation. They are one of the largest sources of grants in the national capital region and are able to play the roles of fund manager, grantmaker, convener, catalyst, through the numerous resources they offer.
There were many prominent Asian Americans present at the celebration, including Kathy Park, Reporter and Anchor at ABC7/Channel 8, who emceed the celebration. Spoken word poet G Yamazawa performed at the cabaret and the award winning dance troupe, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess dance company, performed two pieces as well. The company, which recently performed at the Kennedy Center to rave reviews, mesmerized audiences.
One of the pieces performed at the Community Foundation’s Fundraiser was a excerpt from a piece about Burgess’s grandmother, who was an immigrant from Korea. The second piece was inspired by a trip Burgess took to Pakistan. It illustrates the story of a woman who has lived her entire life under a veil at the time of death.
“I think the nonverbal is very powerful,” said dancer Yeonjin Cho who performed as the woman under the veil. “It’s like when you see someone cry. At a deeper level, something is affected.”
“Himalaya Song” – A Sold Out Show at Artisphere
In an avant-garde performance that was commissioned by the Sundance Festival, and named one of the best music films at Sundance 2012 by the Rolling Stone, Himalaya Song traveled to the Artisphere in Virginia as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival. The performance was a blend of documentary, live music, and art and explored the effects of climate change on the Himalayan mountains while blending music from India and China. The project was created by musician Gingger Shankar musical instrument specially created for her, Mridu Chandra, a filmmaker and a producer, and Dave Liang, the creator of The Shanghai Restoration Project. A heady and thought provoking experience. Visit www.himalayasong.com to learn more.
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