FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May is national Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, and Rhode Island College will host an Asian-Pacific American Dance Festival and Community Leadership Awards event to celebrate Rhode Island’s Asian-Pacific community and leaders. The Asian-Pacific American Dance Showcase and Community Leadership Awards will be held in Roberts Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. Event sponsors include the Laotian Community Center of RI (LCC), Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), and Rhode Island College (RIC).
Dr. Nancy Carriuolo, President of Rhode Island College, will welcome audience members, community leaders, and performers in an awards event that will precede the evening dance concert. Leaders to be recognized include: James Viengkhone Phommasith, President of Lao Association of RI; Samnang Becker, President of Cambodian Society of RI; Subhash Chandler, President of India Museum and Heritage Society; Hiromi Lima, President of RI Japan Society, Language and Cultural Center; Luyi Shao, Director of the Chinese RI Kung Fu Club; Chanravy Proeung and Sarath Suong, Co-Directors of (PrYSM) Providence Student Youth Movement; Yee Heu, Pastor of Hmong Evangelical Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; and Channavy Chhay, Executive Director of the Center for Southeast Asians; Ting Barnard; Chairperson of Providence Mayor's Southeast Working Group; and Lily Phommachanh, President of Asian Student Association of Rhode Island College.
The dance festival will feature a rich and wide array of forms ranging from Asian and Pacific classical and traditional forms to contemporary forms that blend Asian-Pacific Islander and western dance. Performers will include the Cambodian Society Dancers; Master artist Song Heng and band; Laotian Dancers; Indian Association Dancers; Korean Dancers; Polynesian Dancers; and Everett Dancers (an Asian Hip Hop group).
Admission is free and tickets are available at LCC at Southside Cultural Center, 393 Broad St, Providence, RI or call 401-559-9054. Tickets also may be reserved online at riasiandancefestival.eventbrite.com and will be available in the lobby of Roberts Hall on the evening of the event.
RIC will also host a pre-event reception at 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the lobby of Roberts Hall. RI cultural and Asian-Pacific community groups will be represented with display tables and light refreshments will be served in the Alumni Lounge.
Celebrating the communities and contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, Asian-Pacific Heritage Week was established in 1977 by the federal government and extended to be a month-long celebration in 1992. Join in on Rhode Island’s celebration of our own Asian-Pacific American communities, leaders, and cultural organization this May at Rhode Island College.
For additional information please contact Elena Calderon Patino, Director of Community Art Program, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts at Elena.patino@arts.ri.gov or Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy at Silaphone@yahoo.com
