Thursday Nights: Asian Improv aRts’ 35th Anniversary Festival of Music and Dance
On-site at the museum
Celebrate the 35th anniversary of Asian Improv aRts with music, dance, and film.
Two performances, 6–7 PM and 7:30–8:30 PM
For 35 years, Asian Improv aRts (AIR) has been at the forefront of advancing Asian and Asian American artists, activism, and culture. Come join us for two unique programs of music, dance, and film that bring together a national lineup representing multiple generations of AIR artists to celebrate this historic milestone and look forward to the future with radical imagination.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Kioto Aoki (taiko / percussion)
Tatsu Aoki (taiko / shamisen)
Karl Evangelista (guitar)
Marina Fukushima (dance)
Ben Goldberg (clarinet)
Yi Ting (Gama) Hsu (dance)
Hien Huynh (dance)
Christopher Lam (Vietnamese monochord, Đàn Bầu)
Jacqueline Lam (Vietnamese zither, Đàn Tranh)
William Roper (tuba)
Karen Stackpole (multiple percussion)
Melody Takata (taiko)
Francis Wong (saxophone)
And more
Program A: 6 PM
- Karl Evangelista (guitar) & Ben Goldberg (clarinet)
- Kioto Aoki (taiko/percussion)
- YiTing Gama Hsu & Hien Huynh (dance)
Program B: 7:30 PM
- Melody Takata (taiko)
- Marina Fukushima (dance film)
- Francis Wong (saxophone) with Kioto Aoki, Tatsu Aoki (taiko / shamisen), Karl Evangelista, Christopher Lam (Vietnamese Monochord – Đàn Bầu), Jacqueline Lam (Vietnamese zither – Đàn Tranh), William Roper (tuba), Karen Stackpole (multiple percussion), Melody Takata
ABOUT ASIAN IMPROV ARTS (AIR)
Since 1987, Asian Improv aRts (AIR) has built a national cross-cultural, interdisciplinary community rooted in social justice and equity, advancing artists who create innovative works representing authentic Asian and Asian American experiences. Over its 35 years, AIR has produced more than 100 recordings of Asian American artists, chronicling a legacy of Asian artistic excellence in the U.S. It has mentored many artists in their early stages, some of whom are now luminaries in their field, such as Vijay Iyer and Jen Shyu.
Satisfy your appetite for culture on Thursday Nights at the Asian Art Museum: our special exhibitions, collection galleries, cafe, and boutique stay open until 8 p.m. and admission is half price after 5 p.m.
This program is presented by Asian Improv aRts, API Cultural Center & Lenora Lee Dance. It is supported in part by the Hewlett Foundation, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation, and by generous individuals
