Discovering Asian Performing Arts
Digital Program
Lobby Activities
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Riso Poster Show
The show “Here You Go” showcases 6 artists from the Asian Diaspora in Mohkinstsis / Calgary. These artists work with photography, printmaking and drawing. The artists are invited as they hail from the Asian Diaspora, but each artist works with diverse ideas, sometimes about the diasporic experience, sometimes not. The posters are printed with a risograph, a process similar to silk screening.
Yolkless Press is a risograph printing press and publication studio co-run by Areum Kim and Teresa Tam. We make artists' publications, zines, posters, and other printed things.
Artists: Danny Luong, Nicole Anne Santangelo, Mantis Huynh, Christina Yao, Andy Rubio, & Aina Z. Paguergan.
1:15PM - 1:30PM - Taiko Station
Presented by Yama no Oto Taiko Ensemble.
1:30PM - 1:45PM - Hung Gar Kung Fu “Show & Tell”
Master Ambrose Kwok Keung Chiu was born in Hong Kong in 1957. As a child, he began training Hung Gar with his father, master Chiu Wai. In parallel with martial arts, master Ambrose learned the secrets of traditional Chinese medicine, passed down in the family from generation to generation. In addition, he learned acupressure from one of the best doctors in Shanghai. In 1985 he started his own medical practice in Hong Kong. In 1997, he moved to Calgary, Canada, where he is the Recommended Physician in the Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizen's Association, and Calgary Vietnam Chinese Association. Following in his father's footsteps, Master Ambrose Chiu trains and teaches Hung Gar Kuen in Calgary.
1:45PM - 2:00PM - Poetry by Dale Lee Kwong
Dale Lee Kwong is a Mohkintsis based poet, playwright, and essayist. A native Calgarian, she is third-generation Chinese-Canadian. Her work explores Chinese-Canadian history, diversity & inclusion, adoption, and LGBTQ issues. Dale’s next project will be a posting as Writer-in-Residence at Eau Claire cSpace at the end of June. If you are downtown on Canada Day, come hear alternative programming for black, indigenous, and people of colour – Stories of Exclusion
3:20PM - 3:30PM - Korean Dance Steps
Presented by Calgary Korean Women’s Association.
4:30PM - 5:00PM Chinese Instruments “Petting Zoo”
Presented by Gailan Ensemble.
Show Program
Yodan
Shunpuu
Gyobang Salpuri
Yama no Oto ⼭の⾳
Mibok Kim
Seonbo dance
Off to the Races (2021)
Produced by Jiajia Li & Calgary Chinese Orchestra
Directed by Vicki Van Chau
Minho Kang
Intermission
Lofty Mountains and Flowing Water, traditional
高山流水; 古曲
Yuan-Yueh (Alvin) Chao, guzheng solo
Bamboo Song (2010), by Wenjing Guo
⽵枝詞（2010）；作曲：郭⽂景
Paul Xu, Muxi Jiang, Jiajia Li, dizi trio
Camel Bells on the Silk Road, by Yong Ning
絲路駝鈴；作曲：寧勇
Asian Folk Song Medley
⺠歌集錦
San Liu, traditional
三六；江南絲⽵
Tea Horse (2016), by Bochan Li
茶⾺（2016）；作曲：李博禪
Ziyu Lin, zhongruan solo
Gailan Ensemble Directed by Jiajia Li
Program Notes
Yodan uses three taiko drums for the performers, and is an exciting style to watch as the taiko performers turn and move between each other, playing on all four available drum surfaces.
Shunpuu is a Kodo One Earth Music composition, released in 2020. The popular renowned Japanese taiko performing group Kodo, composed this piece to share with the world, so that everyone can enjoy playing their music. This pieces uses the larger chu-daiko, the smaller shime-daiko, and the medium katsugi okedo, which is worn over the shoulder and carried by the performer. The melody is carried by the shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute). The title means “Spring Wind”, and we hope that you feel cheerful and hopeful for a beautiful Spring.
Part music video and part documentary, Off to the Races is a new arrangement of the classic Erhu song, Horse Race. The film is a collaboration between the Calgary Chinese Orchestra, filmmaker Vicki Van Chau, and music producer Warren Tse. Through an open call process, the film features 72 participants from the global music community playing with the members of the Calgary Chinese Orchestra, in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
It’s said that Bamboo Song is a kind of song first collected by a government office in the Han Dynasty for collecting folk songs and ballads; some others said that it is first collected by the imperial music office in the Tang Dynasty. As a matter of fact, it’s a kind of folk songs originated in the Bayu area (the present east Chongqing Province), mostly with the natural conditions and social customs, as well as affections between men and women as its main theme. The Chinese ancient poets were fond of writing content lyrics to express their personal emotions. Bamboo was described as a “gentleman”.
Artist Bios
Jiajia Li
Classically-trained flutist Jiajia Li is being praised as "one of the city's finest and most adventurous flautists”. She was the 2019 recipient of the “Stingray Classical Artist in Residency” at National Music Centre and 2016 recipient of Canada’s “Juno” music award micro grant. Since finishing school in Germany and moving to Calgary in 2014, Jiajia has forged her identity through music and performance, cutting across a wide range of modern musical experimentations and traditions. Her wide interests in music have taken her on a journey from concert hall appearances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to improvised shows with the experimental concert series, “Bug Incision”, to directing a traditional Chinese ensemble, “Gailan Ensemble” and forming her latest band, “Ginger Beef”.
www.jiajiamusic.com
Yama no Oto
Yama no Oto is a Calgary-based taiko group that was founded by a group of dedicated taiko enthusiasts who wanted to bring the powerful rhythms of Japanese drumming to their community. The group’s name, which translates to “Sound of the Mountain,” reflects their commitment to creating music that is both dynamic and grounded in nature.
Over the years, Yama no Oto has become known for their high-energy performances, which combine traditional taiko rhythms with modern influences and a strong sense of showmanship. The group has performed at numerous events and festivals throughout Canada, including the Calgary Stampede, the Banff Centre, the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Globalfest, and various concerts and festivals in the Calgary area.
In addition to their performances, Yama no Oto is also committed to teaching and sharing the art of taiko with others. The group offers workshops and classes for all ages and skill levels, and has worked with a variety of community organizations to promote cultural awareness and understanding.
www.calgarytaiko.com
Vicki Van Chau
Vicki Van Chau is a Chinese-Vietnamese Canadian filmmaker based in Calgary, Alberta. She has produced and directed several award-winning short films that have screened across Canada and internationally. She recently received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award and the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the arts & culture in Alberta.
Gailan Ensemble
Gailan Ensemble nourishes your senses with their fresh repertoire, customized arrangements, and enthusiastic performances. Led by virtuosic flutist Jiajia Li, the chamber ensemble is made up of the finest Chinese instrumentalists in Alberta. The members’ diverse musical experience — from Chinese opera, Chinese orchestra, classical, jazz and rock — resulted in Gailan Ensemble’s wildly successful first live performance at Calgary's TD Chinatown Street Festival last summer. The eclectic ensemble also packed the Studio Bell this year to celebrate the Lunar New Year with music.
IG: @gailanensemble