ARI PROJECT: Asian Drum Festival

Date : Friday, August 03, 2018 
Time : 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM 

ARI PROJECT: Performing Arts
Asian Drum Festival

FEATURES KOREA, TURKEY AND JAPAN/OKINAWA PERFORMANCES

Promoted by Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy

-Date: Friday, August 3, 2018 at 7:30pm
-Place: Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles 3rd Fl. Ari Hall
5505 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA 90036
-Online Reservation: www.kccla.org/english/programs_reservation.asp

The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA) and Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy will present a special performance "Asian Drum Festival" on Friday, August 3rd, 2018 at 7:30P.M. on the 3rd floor of the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, Ari Hall.

Three distinct cultures "Korea, Turkey and Japan/Okinawa" will come together on one stage to celebrate the diversity of our community and inspire new friendships by building bridges across cultures.

The performance comprises 'One Drum', 'Hourglass Drum Dance', 'Three Drum' from Korea, 'Thrace Drumming' (Trakya Davulu), 'Turkish Gypsy Drumming and Dance', 'Horon Drumming' from Turkey, 'Mirukumunari', 'Umi no Koe', and 'Nenjyu Kuduchi' from Japan/Okinawa.

Participating artists are as followed: Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy (Founder & Artistic Director Jung Im Lee), Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company (Director and Choreographer Vedat Emin Gursoylu), and Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko LA Branch (LA Branch Leader/Coordinator Kohki Nishioka). This performance is part of the on-going multicultural performance series organized by Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy.

The performance is free but phone or online reservation is required prior the performance.

*This performance is presented as a part of the Korean Cultural Center’s ARI PROJECT Season: Performing arts series, which features a rich program of various performing arts programs including Korean traditional music and dance, modern fusion world music, Jazz, royal court tea ceremonies, puppet shows as well as theater. 

-PROGRAM-
1. One Drum / Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy
2. Mirukumunari / Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko
3. Umi no Koe / Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko
4. Thrace Drumming (Trakya Davulu) / Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company
5. Turkish Gypsy Drumming and Dance / Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company
6. Hourglass Drum Dance / Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy
7. Nenjyu Kuduchi / Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko
8. Horon Drumming / Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company
9. Three Drum / Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy

* The program is subject to change without notice.

-Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy-
Founder and Artistic Director Jung Im Lee 
The Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy is one of the oldest and largest dance academies teaching traditional Korean dance in Southern California. With over 50 years of dance experience, Jung Im Lee has instructed dance in the States for nearly 30 years. The students not only learn traditional dance numbers, but they also learn the history and cultural origination of each dance. By actively participating in community events and annual cultural festivals, Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy aims to share the beauty of Korean dance so that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate it.

-Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company-
Director and Choreographer Vedat Emin Gursoylu 
Based in Los Angeles, California, Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance Company introduces Turkish folk dance, music, and culture. The group has many unique dancers, musicians, and performers with a strong stage background under Vedat E Gursoylu’s Direction, making it the largest and very rare group in all of USA. Audiences enjoy Vedat E. Gursoylu Turkish Drum & Dance performances very much.

-Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko-
Los Angeles Branch Leader/Coordinator Kohki Nishioka 
"Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (RMD) was originally formed in Okinawa in 1982 to introduce young people to the passion of taiko drumming and the beauty of Okinawan culture. Since its formation, branches have been established throughout Japan, South America, and the U.S. The Los Angeles branch was originally formed in 1995 and is the only branch on the West Coast. Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko’s taiko style is based on the old Okinawan tradition of obon taiko dancing, called eisa, in which dancers carry large odaiko drums suspended by shoulder straps or smaller hand-held drums. Performers emphasize karate style movements to create a visually exciting and energetic dance while drumming to a blend of traditional and contemporary Okinawan and Japanese music.