Performing Arts has been one of the foundations of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival ever since its debut in 2001. The festival has featured dozens of individual artists, organizations and groups playing music, dancing and even doing standup comedy over the years.

Back in 2001, there was only one stage to share the talent from our local Asian communities. The main Performing Arts Stage is a showcase for world-class talent from our communities, and our goal has always been to feature both the educational experience of traditional Asian culture and the contemporary spirit of Asian Americans who can play rock and roll, blues, folk or jazz, or bring elements of hip-hop to a traditional dance. The Main Performing Arts Stage proves that our history is rich with wonderful performing arts traditions, but that Asian Americans aren't just about "geeks and geishas"!

Favorite performers over the years include Denver Taiko with their thundering Japanese drums; the charming traditional Chinese traditions of the Christina Yeh Dance Studio; and the colorful and dynamic Dragon Dance, Lion Dances and martial arts demonstrations of Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Academy. These three crowd-pleasing groups have been part of the CDBF family for all 10 years, and ther're back again for our anniversary!

Here's the schedule for the 2010 Performing Arts Stage:

SATURDAY, JULY 24

10:00-11:30 am	2010 OPENING CEREMONY Team Parade, Welcome Speeches, "Awakening the Dragon" Eye-Dotting Ceremony &75-foot Dragon Dance
12:00 pm	BOLLYWOOD WEST South Indian Contemporary Dance http://www.bollywoodwest.com/
12:30 pm	GREAT WALL CHINESE ACADEMY Chinese Dance & Music http://www.greatwallchineseacademy.org/
1:00 pm	WENDY WOO TRIO Funky Rock Music http://wendywoo.com
2:00 pm	JR. WAHINES/POLYNESIA PACIFICA FOUNDATION Hawaiian Dance http://polypac.org/
2:30 pm	MIRAI DAIKO Japanese Taiko Drums http://www.miraidaiko.com/
3:00 pm	SHAOLIN HUNG MEI KUNG FU ASSOCIATION Lion dance & Kung Fu demonstration http://www.shaolinhungmei.org/
3:30 pm	MARK KAHALEKULU Hawaiian Singing
4:00 pm	ARCINDA Indonesian Music & Dance http://www.arcinda.org/
4:30 pm	FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF COLORADO Traditional Filipino Dance http://www.filam-colo.org
5:00 pm	KALAMA POLYNESIAN DANCERS Polynesian Dance http://www.polynesianpartyplanners.com/
5:30 pm	DENVER TAIKO Japanese Taiko Drums http://www.denvertaiko.org/

SUNDAY, JULY 25

10:00-11:00 am	PHILIPPINE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COLORADO (PASCO) FOLK ARTS Filipino Instrumental Music (10-10:15) http://www.coloradopasco.org/ YUYING CHEN Chinese Instrumental Music (10:15 – 10:30) PHOENIX & SHARAQA SHIMMERS Middle Eastern Dance – (10:30-10:45) http://www.phoenix-dancing.com/sharaqashimmers/sharaqashimmers.html
11:00 am	CHRISTINA YEH DANCE STUDIO Traditional Chinese Folk Dance http://www.christinayehchinesedancestudio.com/
11:30 am	HALAU HULA O NA MAUNA KOMOHANA Hawaiian Dance http://www.oconnor.gs/halau.html
12:00 pm	DWIGHT MARK Chinese American Band http://www.dwightmark.com/ Listen to Dwight's "Dragon Boat" song, our unofficial theme song!
1:00 pm	GAMELAN TUNAS MEKAR Traditional Indonesian Music & Dance http://www.tunasmekar.org/
1:30 pm	NATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY Chinese Martial Arts http://www.wushunmaa.net/
2:00 pm	HALAU HULA O NA MAUNA POHAKU Hawaiian Dance http://www.maunapohaku.org/
2:30-3:00 pm	HYPE 303 Hip-hop dance crew http://www.myspace.com/begottenband
3:00- 3:30 pm	MISS ASIAN AMERICAN COLORADO Variety of performances by contestants & 2010 Miss AACO, Hmong American Pamela Yang http://missaaco.com
3:30 pm	ISLAND BLAZE Hawaiian Music & Singing http://www.hawaiianway.com/
4:00 pm	MUDRA DANCE STUDIO Classical, folk and Contemporary Dances of India http://www.mudradancestudio.us/
4:30 pm	DENVER TAIKO Japanese Taiko Drums http://www.denvertaiko.org/

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MEET HING RYDER, PERFORMING ARTS CHAIR

Hing Ryder has been the Chair of the Performing Arts Stage since 2007. She has maintained the excellent and exciting lineups that the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival has become known for, and helps promote the best Asian and Asian American talent from the region.

"The CDBF Operating Committee is a cohesive team to work with and the Board of Directors has been very supportive," she says, in explaining her dedication to the festival.

"The passion of each Operating Committee member is genuine. We all want the festival to be successful. The Performing Arts stage, just like CDBF itself, is a bridge for every aspect of our different cultures, joined together to promote harmony and peace.

Other CDBF 2010 Performing Arts areas include: The Cultural Unity Hip-Hop stage and Gateway To Asia, which include the Explore Asia exhibits and Find Zen in 2010 area.