This year, right after the Spring Fling, Sue and I went to the annual Asian Festival, held every year in Columbus. The organizers claim it is the largest such free Asian cultural gathering in the US.

I go every year and take a few pictures. This year I took a new camera, which I am still learning how to use, so some pictures didn't turn out as I would like. However, a few were OK. Here is the head of the traditional dragon.



Of all the musical groups, I really liked the Mongolian singing group "Kaya and Wolf Totem". (Some of their music is available at the iTunes store). They demonstrated traditional throat singing and it was very, very compelling. Here is their lead singer. He looks like he is howling :-)



If you would like to see more pictures:

See the entire album (larger pictures):

http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r136/de...anFestival2010/

See as a small slide show:

http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r136/de...nt=7d786227.pbw

 

Outstanding Dennis!!

 

 

Colorful pictures.

 

Very nice! I especially like the kids all in red dancing.

 

Very nice pictures, thank you for sharing.

But the Japanese dancers don't look Japanese at all (both pictures). And the person playing the mouth organ (from the Cleveland Chinese Music Ensamble) also doesn't look Chinese.

 

Yes, the younger Japanese dancers looked "hapa" (i.e. mixed). The older dancers looked 100% Japanese. The Cleveland Chinese music ensemble leader is not Chinese (all the rest are), but he speaks Mandarin fluently and he played two different types of mouth organs.

Some info on them:

Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble
The Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble presents a wide variety of Chinese music, including both ancient and modern pieces, on traditional wind, string, and percussion instruments. This weekend's performances will include lyrical "silk and bamboo" ensemble pieces, festival music for winds and percussion, and virtuosic solos for the pipa (pear-shaped lute), guzheng (zither), and sheng (mouth organ).

Formed in the fall of 2008 for the opening celebration of the University of Akron's Confucius Institute, the ensemble has also performed at several other area universities as well as at the Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Art Museum, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland Public Library, Kent State Folk Festival, Cleveland Asian Festival, and Asian Pacific American Federation Asian Heritage Month Celebration. They have also been featured on WCPN 90.3 FM, WVIZ Channel 25, and Image TV Ohio.

The musicians for this weekend's performances include David Badagnani (sheng, houguan, suona), Yan Ping Ye (pipa, percussion), Demi Zhang (guzheng, percussion), Yumeng Nie (guzheng, hulusi, percussion), Amy Li (percussion), and Wannie Wong (percussion).

 

Nice pictures!

The only thing nicer than seeing these pictures here was seeing all of the dancers and musicians in person with you.

Would you like to make a date to go again next year?

I'll carry your camera bag and tripod for you.

 

You can get an idea of what the Mongolian "horse head fiddle" sounds like here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOMdy243fg

Sorry I don't know how to embed it in my post.