This year’s celebration show will share the journey into Bengali, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Polynesian, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cultures through music and dance.

Samples of Thai delicacies by James Beard Award-nominated Chef Genevieve Vang will also be shared.  

Director’s Note: America is created by people from different parts of the world. We came here bringing the threads of our culture that have been woven into the fabric of our great country, the American dream. 

Our country’s fabric is rich with color, texture, contrast, and aesthetics. Migrating to America creates a new section of our tapestry, the rich history of our ancestral thread is woven into our evolving culture. Sometimes the migration is not measured in miles but in transition of thought, from our old traditions to the ways of our new land. Our ancestor’s influences have laid a path to the present and technologies have made history more accessible, allowing us to add more depth to our rich fabric of life. 

With 150 years of Asian Americans in Michigan, we can use our resources to spread the arts as a universal language, expressing ourselves in a global community, showing our sense of beauty, and our challenges.

Featured Performances:

• Plum Blossoms | Performed by ArtLab J, Choreographed by Joori Jung
• Morning Light | Performed by J.Z Dance Studio, Choreographed by Joanne Zheng
• Blossom | Performed by Inner Action Dance Team, Choreographed by Anna Lou
• Hakka Umbrella Fusion | Performed by Wind Dance Chinese Cultural Group, Choreographed by Sharon Dow
• Thank you Mekong River | Performed by Ntxhais Tshiab Ci, Choreographed by Brea Yang
• Love the Fickle Lantern | Performed by Vietnamese American Association of Michigan-Dance Team, Choreographed by Loan Anh Pham
• Bulaklakan | Performed by Magkapuso Group of Salvation Army Farmington Hills Corps, Choreographed by Flor Penner
• Snow Plateau | Performed by J.Z Dance Studio, Choreographed by Joanne Zheng
• Dancing Stories of Bollywood Beats | Performed by Indian Rhythms of Dance - The Life Mantra Academy, Choreographed by Forem Mehta
• Joyful Nature of Bangladesh | Performed by Michigan Kalibari Nrityangan, Choreographed by Mohua Das Sarkar
• Chilugen, Revolving of Four Seasons | Performed by Eric Gantumur
• Warrior Horse | Performed by Xiao Dong Wei and Austin Liczbinski
• The Last Time | Performed & Composed by Shin Hoo Yong
• Let’s Celebrate with the Lion Dance! | Performed by Buddhist Family Youth Group of America - From Linh Son Monastery in Warren Mi (Representing Vietnamese American Association)

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage American Month programs are developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group Friends of Asian & Arts Cultures and funded in part by the Freeman Foundation.

Registration for programs in Rivera Court is highly encouraged - capacity will be limited.

Please arrive early - 5 minutes prior to performance start any open seats will be forfeit and given to visitors who are on-site, regardless of registration.

Photo Credit: 2022 AAPI Cultural Show