Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month coming in May!
Please join us on Saturday, April 29 at 11am on the North Branch lawn for performances by Cal VSA Lion Dance and by Fei Tian Dancers. All ages are welcome to this program.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
11:00am - 11:15am > Cal VSA Lion Dance
11:15am - 11:45am > Fei Tian Dancers
Sponsored by Friends of the Berkeley Public Library
About Cal VSA Lion Dance
Longing for their homeland, a group of immigrant Vietnamese students at UC Berkeley joined forces and created the Vietnamese Student Association in 1979. Their goal was to create a space in which they could connect through their similar backgrounds and share their culture with each other. To further their purpose, they looked to educate others about Vietnamese culture, history, and heritage. Today, Cal VSA is still a student organization that embraces our Vietnamese and Vietnamese American roots and culture. Though our members are a part of a new generation, we recognize and commemorate the experiences that our parents and relatives have had while also striving to identify and to understand the emerging narratives and current issues in our community. Ultimately, Cal VSA strives to empower its members to become leaders of their communities and preserve the history and heritage of the Vietnamese culture for future generations. Cal VSA Lion Dance began in 2008 and is dedicated to the celebration of lion dance, an important tradition in Vietnamese and Chinese culture. Lion dancing is a traditional art form that combines the skills of Asian dance and martial arts. We hope to preserve this practice and help students reconnect with their heritage through lion dancing. As a group we work to share this tradition with the community, bringing good luck and prosperity to those around us.
About Fei Tian Dancers
Established in 2003 as a Registered Student Organization, Fei Tian Dancers (FTD) is UC Berkeley's only Chinese dance performing group. FTD supports dancers of all backgrounds in developing their Chinese dance skill & technique, enhancing their comprehension of traditional Chinese culture, & in spreading greater awareness of Chinese classical & ethnic cultures to the bigger community. This dance team incorporates classical, ethnic, & modern Chinese dances into its repertoire through creating original choreography & learning traditional works. FTD performs at many functions in Berkeley and around the Bay Area, showcasing the multifarious ethnic dances of China.