The holiday season brings joy to many which usually means neighborhoods are decked with colorful displays of lights. When you put together colors with dancers, you get infinite possiblities. Such was the theme of Saturday's showcase of dance performances representing various parts of Asia in the "2012 Dance Asia Colors! Holiday Showcase" held at the Thomas Jefferson Auditorium in Arlington (VA).
The event, which was free to the public, was organized by Dance Asia, a Northern Virginia consortium of dance troupes which was founded by Wuiping Yap in 2004. It was sponsored in part by Arlington County Cultural Affairs, Asia Heritage Foundation and Celebrate Heritage!.
“We’re of Asian heritage, but this show and our mission has always been to be inclusive with friends and family,” stated Ms. Yap, who also danced. “Nothing brings more joy than dancing with your friends and children who we are trying to groom as our next generation.”
The objectives of Dance Asia are threefold: to showcase the diversity of Asia through the Art of Movement, to raise public awareness on the intricasies of Asian dance forms and to promote and cultivate interest in Asian dance forms.
If Saturday's performances were any indication of just how much Dance Asia has fulfilled those objectives, then it would have to be said they did a wonderful job. Thirteen dance troupes representing various Asian cultures (including one from Boliva in South America) each represented a different color. It provided the troupes with a "fresh avenue to stage creative heritage performances".
The costumes were brilliant in both their colors and designs. The superb performances made them even more magnificent. All generations were represented with energetic performances. And all this was free to the public.
The troupes represented were: Ancient Rhythms Dance Company, Compania Del Bouffon, Dance Asia Alliance, Fairfax Chines Dance Troupe, Fil Am Heritage Dance Ensemble, Hulala, Hung Too Choy Mei Leadership Institute, Mongolian Dance Ensemble, Natyabhoomi School of Dance, Pachamam (representing Bolivia), Rumah Gadang, Silk Road Dance Company and Ta'ata Roiroi.
