2011 Gateway to Asia Performers

Gateway to Asia is the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival’s showcase for pan-Asian culture, featuring lectures, performances and demonstrations that lets audiences see up close how to trim a bonsai tree, how to make a Hawai’ian flower lei, how to write Chinese calligraphy and how it feels to beat on a taiko drum. The performances are more intimate and enlightening.

Each year, Gateway to Asia also focuses on one or more Asian communities, and this year CDBF is proud to put the spotlight on Japan. After Japan had been named as the Gateway to Asia focus for 2011, the tragic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster struck northern Japan, making our presentation in Gateway a poignant choice. Please come and take a virtual tour of Japan without leaving Denver.

Come and learn about the country and its customs and traditions, and learn also about the history of Japanese Americans in Colorado, including Amache, the concentration camp in southeast Colorado where 10,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during WWII. You’ll also see many traditional Japanese performers and martial arts groups on the Gateway to Asia stages, and see intimate demonstrations of Japanese culture.

GATEWAY TO ASIA PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

Gateway to Asia is sponsored in part by the William and Alice Hosokawa Fellowship Program with support from the Consulate-General of Japan at Denver.

Consulate-General of Japan at Denver
Japan America Society of Colorado
Japanese Association of Colorado
Mile-Hi JACL
University of Denver
Amache Preservation Society
Granada High School
Simpson United Methodist Church
Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple
Inside Japan Tours

STAGE PERFORMANCES

Masako Aizawa

Japanese cooking demonstration
Born in Yokohama Japan, learned culinary skills from Tokyo Shinjyuku Culinary School, and from various hotels and restaurants in Tokyo. She has worked with Harumi Kurihara and as the personal chef for the Japanese Women’s Olympic Marathon Runners and numerous top professional running teams. She is currently working for the Boulder Valley School District, and the Stir It Up Cooking School in Boulder. Her dream is to build a happy and healthy cultural bridge from Japan to the United States with her culinary experience.
 
 
 

ARCINDA

Indonesian music & dance
Java, an island in the Indonesian archipelago is also a name used to describe a nice coffee and the name of a popular computer programming language. But yes, Java is a real place with a nice people and a beautiful culture. Javanese Gamelan is a traditional music from Java. Traditional Javanese music is soft and mellow, while modern Javanese music is more dynamic. Modern Javanese music/song can be transposed to western/modern music and be played together with a modern band. Arts and Culture of Indonesia (ARCINDA) is a Denver-based group that performs traditional Javanese Gamelan music and dance. www.arcinda.org

Bohua Chinese School

Chinese dance
Bohua Chinese School, founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization that promotes traditional Chinese culture and community spirits. Meeting regularly on Sundays, the school offers various programs in Chinese language, arts, and culture to school-age children and adults from Boulder and its surrounding areas. Currently, more than 250 students are enrolled in various classes. For years, Bohua has served as a community center to families who are, in one way or another, linked through Chinese Culture in the large Boulder area.

Chin Dance Group

Burmese dancing
There are 9 tribes from Burma who are living here in CO. The three different tribes performing has different languages and cultures. The ethnic people from Burma, Karen, Chin and Mon has brought 3 different dances to the 2011 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Gateway to Asia. The Chin are one of the ethnic groups in Burma (Myanmar). The Chins are found mainly in western part of Myanmar (the Chin State) and numbered circa 1.5 million.

Denver Kayo Club

Japanese karaoke singing

Denver Taiko

Japanese drumming
Denver Taiko is celebrating 35 years as a group and are the fourth oldest taiko group in North America. A community-based organization committed to honoring and sharing Japanese drumming through performance, Denver Taiko combines both modern and ancient rhythms into a style and sound which is uniquely their own. Throughout the years, Denver Taiko has performed across the US in many different venues which each performance providing the group an opportunity to share the Japanese culture and spirit to those in attendance. Denver Taiko has been performing at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival since the first year, in 2001. www.denvertaiko.org

EP Davis

Ukulele and Hawaiian vocals

EP Davis has been a professional for over 30 years, performed in over 60 countries and for two United States Presidents. He had two Ukulele CDs and hosts “The Steel Guitar Jam” a weekly radio show on KRFC FM 88.9. He divides his time between Hanalei, Hawaii and Fort Collins, Colorado. www.hanaleiep.com
 
 
 

Mami Finke & Janine Thormann

Japanese Obi demonstration
Obi are the traditional sash, or belt, worn with kimonos. There are many types of obi, and most of them are for women: wide obis made of brocade and narrower, simpler obis for everyday wear. The contemporary women’s obi is a very conspicuous accessory, sometimes even more so than the kimono robe itself. A fine formal obi might cost more than the rest of the entire outfit. You can learn how to tie an obi this year at Gateway to Asia.

PASCO

Filipino group
The Philippine-American Society of Colorado (PASCO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating, preserving, promoting and sharing the Philippine Culture and cultural opportunities that would enrich the lives of its members and the people of Colorado. Our Cultural Programs Include: Folk Art Dance Repertoire, the heart of our cultural program and PASCO Rondalla, an ensemble stringed instruments. http://coloradopasco.org
 

Kalama Polynesian Dancers

Polynesian dance
We are Colorado’s finest Polynesian entertainers. We feature professional Polynesian dancers sharing the culture of the islands of Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Tahiti. Our group also has a Halau or Hula School. We teach kids and adults our culture through dance and song. Our group consists of children dancers, men and women dancers, live drummers, live musicians (ukulele and guitar), and MC. We specialize in classes, workshops, and performances.

Karen Dance Group

Burmese dancing
There are 9 tribes from Burma who are living here in CO. The three different tribes performing has different languages and cultures. The ethnic people from Burma, Karen, Chin and Mon has brought 3 different dances to the 2011 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Gateway to Asia. The Karen ethnic group resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma (Myanmar). The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people.

Inner Wave Penchat Silak

Indonesian martial arts
Pencak Silat is an ancient art that has been practiced by people in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. Persatuan Inti Ombak found its root in Madura and Central Java style of Pencak Silat, which is the basic style of Guru Daniel Prasetya. The style that most influenced Guru Daniel is the The Madura style which he learned from his uncle, Master Pribadi. The Madura system comes from Madura Island, a neighboring island of Java. Its emphasis is in low wide stances, which have become the major core of Guru Daniel’s system. More info on the web site: http://intiombak.com

Kazuko Kozai

Japanese Furoshiki & Ikebana demonstration
Kazuko Kozai (B.S., M.S.) has been studying Ikebana since 1970 in Japan and in U.S. She is a senior professor of IKENOBO ikebana school, the oldest (550 years old) and largest ikebana school of Japan, since she moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1999, she has been enthusiastically working to promote Japanese culture which is natural or eco-friendly, such as Ikebana, Furoshiki wrapping, Japanese wellness exercise, etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mon Dance Group

Burmese dancing
There are 9 tribes from Burma who are living here in CO. The three different tribes performing has different languages and cultures. The ethnic people from Burma, Karen, Chin and Mon has brought 3 different dances to the 2011 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Gateway to Asia. The Mon ethnic group lives mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai-Myanmar border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand. The Mon culture is credited as a major source of influence on the dominant Burmese culture.

Nan Desu Kan

Japanese anime cosplay
Learn about the exciting world of Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga) from the experts — the folks who love anime and organize the annual Nan Desu Kan anime convention. Nan Desu Kan (a Japanese pun translating loosely to ‘what is it?’) began its life in 1997 at the Tivoli Student Union as a small, fan-run convention with just 200 or so attendees. These days, several hotels and more than a decade later, NDK is still a fan-run convention.www.ndkdenver.org/

Okinawa Kenjinkai

Okinawan Dance
Colorado Okinawa Kenjinkai (Association) marks its 37th anniversary this year. The members have learned Okinawan dances with help of Ms. Naoko Ahagon, the master dancer of the Binfukai group from Tamagusuku Dance School in Okinawa. The Kenjinkai organizes the celebrative event biennially to introduce Okinawan culture to the community, also holds New Year party and picnic annually to promote mutual friendship. They have participated actively in the Japanese cultural events in the community, such as Denver Kohaku Utagassen (Singing Competition), Bon Odori Festivals, and Asian Festival by Japan America Society of Southern Colorado.

Junko Shigeta

Japanese Koto
Junko Shigeta is from Kamukura, Japan. Kamakura was the first Shogunate in Japan for the first Shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192. She learned koto, Shamisen, and Jushichigen (Base koto) in Miyagi Style and pursued the Shihan license (Master teacher). As a formal Miyagi style koto teacher, she settled in south Denver and giving Japanese music lessons for both private and ensemble. While teaching Koto ensemble, she goes to schools and public to introduce Japanese stories, cooking, and culture. She is a board member of Colorado federation of Music clubs. She has presented lectures at the junior convention and state festival for CFMC. She also received a instruction in music composition from Conrad Kehn and received a humanity award from Arapahoe community college.

David Wheeler, Kansuke II

Japanese Shakuhachi
David Wheeler lived in Japan for twenty years studying and performing the shakuhachi with some of Japan’s finest traditional masters and ensembles, beginning in Tokyo in 1977 with Junsuke Kawase III, head of the Chikuyu-sha school of Kinko Style classical shakuhachi performance. In 2008, in recognition of three decades of performing and teaching activities in Japan and around the world, he received the performance name Kansuke II. Kansuke’s professional career started in Tokyo, and has since taken him all over Japan and around the world. He has had a central role in every major world shakuhachi festival since the first in Bisei, Japan in 1994, and including Boulder (98), Tokyo (02), New York (04) and Sidney (08). His work aims at crossing musical and artistic barriers both within and outside of the Japanese traditional performing arts world. He now teaches and performs from a base in Boulder.
 

ZEN DEMONSTRATIONS

Midori Allmeyer

Ikebana demonstration
Midori Allmeyer was born on Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. She has been studying and teaching the Japanese traditional art called “Ikebana” for more than 25 years. “Ikebana” means “the art of flower arranging.” It has history of 500 years. Ikebana can be arranged anytime, anywhere, by anyone and with any material. Many beautiful flowers and plants, the raw materials, are the products of mother nature but Ikebana is the product of man’s creativity and imagination in the arrangement of such raw materials. Ikebana is always alive. She volunteers at the Denver Art Museum as a flower counselor and at the Botanic Gardens tea house. She teaches Ikebana classes at Sakura Square.

Amache Preservation Society

Presentation about Amache, Colorado’s Japanese American Internment Camp
Since 1990, the Amache Preservation Society, a Granada high school group, has worked on preservation of the site and its documents. As a school project, Granada Undivided High School students have set up a museum for the Granada War Relocation Center. The society is a class that’s taught by John Hopper, a teacher who has inspired students for over 20 years to learn about, preserve and themselves teach about Amache.
 

Ancient Harmony Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi
Ancient Harmony Tai Chi Chuan School began operation in 2005 & is owned by Sifu Mearl Thompson. Ancient Harmony provides low-cost Tai Chi instruction for the community, and serves as a forum for both local and national seminars, classes and push-hands gatherings. Classes are offered in both Yang & Sun style Tai Chi. www.ancientharmonytaichi.com
 
 

Gary Hendrickson

Feng Shui
Gary Hendrickson is a nationally known feng shui educator, author, lecturer, designer, consultant and real estate investor. He has studied with numerous internationally known masters, and has 35 years of study & practice. His integration of multiple techniques of feng shui makes him one of the country’s most innovative feng shui educators & consultants. Gary is a Founding Council Member of the International Feng Shui Guild, and a Re-Direct Guide (Denver-Boulder Sustainable Design guide) member.www.fengshuidesign.net
 

Maile Inagaki

Lei making and shave ice
Maile Inagaki has brought Hawaiian leis and shave ice to Colorado. In 2003 she started Little Grass Shack out of her garage, since then it has evolved into a few boutiques and now, an online store providing fresh flower leis. This year Maile and her family decided to add shave ice to their menu. “Most people only know of snow cones, I want to change the misconception that shave ice is the same thing. www.SpreadingAloha.com
 
 
 
 
 

Harold Sasaki

Bonsai demonstration
Harold Sasaki of Colorado Bonsai Ltd. has been involved in the art of bonsai for over 50 years, beginning in his hometown of Kona, Hawaii. He has been the only instructor of bonsai classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens for the last 35 years and given workshops and lectures nationally. His passion is to “demystify” the art, debunk the myths and provide “Bonsai Survival 101,” so that this wonderful Japanese art can be enjoyed by all.
 
 
 
 
 

Marcia Sasaki

Meditation
Marcia Sasaki, RN is a nurse with over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of traditional Western medical, and nursing areas as well natural and complementary traditions for self-healing. She is now a Certified Divine Healing Hands Practitioner through Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha. Master Sha teaches spiritual healing of the soul comes first, then the body and mind will follow. We all have the ability to heal ourselves and together we can heal the world through Love, Peace and Harmony.
 
 
 
 

Kimiko Side

Japanese Dollmaking and Crafts
Lovingly and respectfully referred to as the “Ambassador of the Japanese American community” in Colorado, Kimiko Side has given herself tirelessly for over 20 years in her adopted country, the United States. She’s is an active volunteer in a variety of organizations, and demonstrates her compassion for others and her leadership in our community in countless ways. For 15 years, Kimiko served as the president of Takayama Sister City, and during that time was instrumental in establishing Takayama Park in Denver and a Denver Park in Takayama, Japan. In May 2008, Kimiko escorted Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper when he visited our sister city of Takayama in Japan. Kimiko is also active in the Japanese American Citizens League, the Japanese Association of Colorado, the Japanese American Society, and was a volunteer in the past for the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations and Discrimination (on which Minoru Yasui served as Executive Director). She is a recipient of the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award. One of Kimiko’s very special gifts is her skill at teaching the craft of Japanese doll making, which she has done for 30 years. Kimiko donates all the profits from her classes to the Buddhist Temple and Simpson Methodist Church. She has also funded scholarships for Japanese students as an active member of the Japanese American Scholarship Committee.

Taoist Tai Chi Society

Tai Chi
The International Taoist Tai Chi Society is dedicated to bringing the benefits of Taoist Tai Chi™ arts of health to people of all abilities and ages. We are a volunteer-run, charitable nonprofit organization with locations in 25 countries. In the Denver Area, we offer regular beginner and continuing Tai Chi classes in Denver, Westminster/Arvada, and Crestone area. All classes are led by nationally accredited volunteer instructors in a friendly and helpful environment. www.taoist.org

Yunn Pann

Very Gentle Taoist Exercises
Do you want to exercise but you don’t like regular exercises? You are aware of the tension you are holding but do not know how to let it go. You would like to learn about “cultivate” or “nurture” your spirit but find “meditation through breathing” not helpful. This is a door to a stronger body and quieter spirit. This workshop can be especially good for people who are old and experienced enough to know one very important aspect of good exercises is gentleness.
 

MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTATIONS

Denver Buddhist Temple Aikido

Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (often referred to by his title ‘O Sensei’ or ‘Great Teacher’). On a purely physical level it is an art involving some throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujitsu and some throws and other techniques derived from Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement. Sensei Ron Abo, the chief instructor of Denver Buddhist Temple Aikido, is a fifth degree black belt who began practicing Aikido in 1978.

Denver Buddhist Temple

Judo

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Colorado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an incredible self-defense system based on the principals of technique and leverage. Which allows the practitioners to defeat opponents of much greater size and strength. Therefore, you do not have to be big, fast, or young to be an effective fighter. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the only martial art that has been proven to be the single most effective system in the world and we have been doing so since 1925. It was made for real street fighting situations. Our purpose is to provide you with the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in Colorado. Whether your goal is to learn self-defense, become a professional fighter, be a tournament Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/submission grappling champion, or just get in shape while having fun; David Ruiz will provide you with the most precise instruction of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to meet your goals. Not all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the same! If you are looking for true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction, you have to come to the right place. David Ruiz is one of the few people in the United States who was educated on how to instruct the art under the watchful eye of the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Helio Gracie. www.coloradobjj.com

Colorado Budokan Karate

Karate
In the Denver metro area since 1978, Colorado Budokan has been providing the highest quality professional instruction in shotokan karate and japanese martial arts for all ages for over 30 years. The mission of Colorado Budokan (affiliated with the USA National Karate-do Federation, national governing body for traditional karate in the United States; appointed by the United States Olympic Committee) is to provide the highest level of professional instruction in the art of karate and to promote the history, philosophy, and techniques of traditional karate-do. www.coloradobudokan.com

Enshin Karate

Karate
Enshin Karate was founded by Kancho Ninomiya. Enshin karate is a system of empty handed self defense, based on karate’s most practical and effective techniques. Its a traditional japanese method of mental and physical conditioning adapted for today needs. Enshin karate gives an opportunity for any man, woman or child to develop strength, flexibility, fitness and self confidence. By using sabaki ( a logical strategy which combines basic techniques with maximum efficiency. Enshin is a path to inner strength, a way of self fulfillment. www.enshinkaratedenver.com
 

Korean Academy of Taekwondo

Taekwondo
The award winning KAT White Tiger Force demonstration team provides an exciting, dynamic show with performers aged from children to adults. The team has performed for numerous groups/venues, including Starbucks, the US Military, Invesco Field, the Denver Nuggets, Aurora Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools, Douglass County Schools, and numerous religious and cultural groups. www.kattaekwondo.com

Okinawa Karate Dojo

Karate
The Padalka Brothers, Sensei Vitaly and Sensei Alexandr teach traditional Shotokan Karate at Okinawa Karate Dojo located 970 S Oneida Street, Unit 9, Denver, CO, 80224. We will perform group Kihon short demonstration, Team Kata, Individual Kata, Bunkai and Sparrings. Breaking Demonstration (Tamashi Wari).
 
 
 

Solow Shifu

Zen Presentation
Solow Shifu is the founder and “Shifu,” or master, of the Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Academy, based in Boulder. He is also a founder of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. Solow Shifu founded the Colorado branch of the Shaolin Hung Mei line of kung fu schools in 1993. This presentation by Solow Shifu will start you on the path of learning why the study of traditional arts leads to a way that will help you deepen your experience of reality. Your outer work becomes the prop of an inner metamorphosis. In the short time available, we will touch on the history of Shaolin Kung Fu, its philosophical underpinnings and explain how the teachings result in enhanced awareness and mindfulness as well as physical abilities. www.shaolinhungmei.org