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Six Flags and co-sponsor Asian Fortune recently thanked several organizations that performed to make the recent 1st Six Flags Asian Festival a success.

The groups were: Zhong Yi Lion Dance, Johns Hopkins University Lion Dance, Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe, Somopa Thai Dance Company; Washington Korean Dance One Academy, Dhoonya Dance Performance Company, Cambodian Buddhist Society Cultural Group, The Calmes Triplets, Mongolian Performance Troupe, Hui O Ka Pua 'Ilima , and the Pilipino American Cultural Arts Society (PACAS).

The Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe from the University of Delaware was formed this summer by two members of the University's Chinese Cultural Student Association. Mike Chan (Class of 2008) and Robin Tsang (Class of 2010) formed the group with help from other lion dancers, also Chinese Club members. The group focuses on Fut-San Style Lion Dance for all different types of occasions i.e. Chinese New Year's and Weddings.

The Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe is under the direction of Mrs. Chin-Siu Lee Choi and her two daughters, Stella and Amy. Mrs. Choi is recipient of the Flying Phoenix Award, the highest honor of National Dance Association of R.O.C.-Taiwan.

The Troupe placed 1st and 2nd in the solo and group categories at the 2004 New England Chinese Dance Competition. It was a 2006 Metro D.C. Dance Awards Finalist and a 2007 Nominee. It was selected through rigorous audition to perform at the 2007 International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap.

It has performed abroad (Formosa Dance Tour 2000, 2000 I-Lan International Children’s Festival, 2004 International Dance Festival - Grenada, 2004 Trinidad Dance Tour). Locally, it has performed at the Kennedy Center, National Theatre, Smithsonian, Capitol Hill, US 14th Air Force Association-Flying Tigers Reunion, FBI, National Zoo, Cherry Blossom Festival, Independence Day, Longwood Gardens, Kimmel Center of Philadelphia, and annually, at the D.C. Dance Festival.

The Dhoonya Dance Performance Company (DDPC) is a co-ed dance company composed of the area’s most and talented South Asian dancers. The dancers share their collective expertise in a variety of South Asian, Middle Eastern and Western dance forms, including but not limited to, Bollywood; Indian Classical (Bharatanatyam and Kathak); Indian Folk (Bhangra, Garba/Raas, Marathi); Hip-hop; Jazz; Lyrical/Modern; and Bellydance.

DDPC has performed at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Asia Heritage Festival, Miss India D.C. Pageant, Boogie Woogie Chalo America-D.C. Competition, and other local community and private events.

Elegance and royalty

Hui O Ka Pua ‘Ilima, a Polynesian dance group based in McLean, Virginia is under the direction of Carol Leolani Takafuji. The troupe’s name is translated as the group that upholds high esteem for the beautiful island flower of O’ahu called the ‘ilima, a symbol of elegance and royalty. Its repertoire includes chants or oli, kahiko (traditional) and `auana (contemporary) hula dancing. Vivian, her daughter and alaka’i or assistant of the hui, shares her knowledge of the ote’a and aparima (two genres of Tahitian dancing). She is also skilled at twirling the poi balls of the dance of the Maori from New Zealand.

   The group started three years ago with students learning the hula at Spring Hill RecCenter in McLean. The dance troupe has performed at private and public functions, including lu`au, fundraisers, schools, churches, community and retirement centers, corporations and many Asian Pacific American Heritage cultural events in the Greater D.C. Metro Area. The group also performed at the 2006 D.C. Dance Festival.

   Carol Takafuji, an accomplished singer and hula dancer, was born and raised on the island of O’ahu, HI, and graduated from the University of Hawai`i. She continues to take formal traditional hula training from a master hula teacher on O’ahu to maintain her dance skills. She is currently president of Hawai`i State Society (HSS) of Washington, D.C., and the Director of the HSS ‘Ukulele Hui (group).

The Somapa Thai Dance Company is based in the D.C. area. Its goal: To preserve and promote Thai performing arts and culture in the U.S. It has trained Thai-American youths at Wat Thai DC (Thai Buddhist temple) in Silver Spring, Maryland and American adults at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier, Maryland.

The Dance Company has performed extensively in the Metro D.C. area, as well as across the nation. Key members of the troupe have over 25 years of Thai dance experience and have been trained under prominent dance masters from the Department of Fine Arts in Bangkok.

At the festival, six performers showcased folk dance repertoires from Central and Northeast Thailand. The Theut-Theng dance, or the Klong Yao (long drum) dance, was performed by Suteera Nagavajara, Geoff Nelson, Boosaba Pananon, Matthew Regan, Maytinee Pramawat and Andy Banks. It depicts young couples playing the drums and courting each other at a local festive event.

Serng Pong-Lang Dance, performed by Boosaba Pananon, Suteera Nagavajara, Maytinee Pramawat, is a name of a musical instrument from Northeastern Thailand. It reflects the life of the people in an agriculture-based society who dance to entertain themselves during the harvest season.

The Cambodian Buddhist Society Cultural Group (CBSCG) is a cultural program of the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. (CBS). Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, at the Cambodian Buddhist Temple, CBS for almost 20 years now has helped preserve and pass on the rich traditions of Khmer (Cambodian) culture, religion, language and traditional arts to area residents.

Led by world renowned co-art directors Masady Mani and Ny Sin, and complemented by talented instructors, CBSCG participants have performed at various prestigious events. Among these are the 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries, Kennedy Center, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Town University, and World Refugee Day celebration.

With such an active program, the temple has become more than a religious center. It is also community central, a place of refuge and cultural enlightenment. For more information, please visit www.cambodian-buddhist.org or www.cbscg.org

Lisa Mi Hee Seo, Diretor of Dance one Academy, said   the Washington Korean Dance has performed on different occasions at the Smithsonian, at the Washington Asia Pacific cultural heritage festivals, in universities, hospitals, and most recently at the World Culture Open at George Washington University.

Mongolian dancer Tsengelmaa Batbaatar, who also calls herself “Deegii,” was born in Ulaan-baatar city. In 1985, she enrolled at the Dance and Music in Middle school. After her graduation in 1992, she joined the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble and toured with the group in Japan, Korea, China, Germany and Taiwan. In 2003, she performed at the Silk Road Festival in Washington, D.C. She performed as a lead dancer in the role of Tsetseg in the famous dance musical production, “The Legend of the Sun.”  As a soloist, she performs such traditional dances as Uzbek, Mongolian lady, Bayad, Durvud dances with the bowl, Baruun Mongol Bielgee, and Mongolian Bielgee.

Gankhuyag "Ganna" Natsag, director and designer, is a master craftsman of costumes and masks, including paper-mâché. He finished 108 Khuree Tsam masks this year. These would be on exhibit at Bloomington, Indiana  during the visit  of Dalai Lama on October 23-28. Since 1985, Ganna’s exhibitions have been presented in numerous folk and traditional art festivals all over Europe and the US. Currently, he works as Art and Mask instructor in Art and Drama Therapy Institute in D.C.

The Calmes Triplets–Melissa, Laura, and Beth–are accomplished classical musicians. Their interests lay in the rich, traditional dance forms of classical and folkloric Egyptian raqs sharqi, as well as various forms of Indonesian dance. The sisters choreograph and perform regularly as The Calmes Triplets and have also been teachers and members at Sahara Dance in D.C. The Calmes Triplets performed Hazar Fazar, featuring different styles of Middle Eastern Dance, a Drum Solo, and a Fusion piece.