Hip, Hapa and Interculturally Happening: May 5 – 12
It's Asian Heritage Month!
What
to see? What do do? Where to go? With Asian
Heritage Month there will be no shortage of interculturally Asian
events to attend during the explorASIAN festival – check it out!
Think I will start off the week by going to the Musica intima concert
at Ryerson United Church. They are a wonderful choral group, and
can always be counted on to do something wonderful and absolutely
gorgeous. Too bad I will have to miss the No Shit Shirleys –
another one of my favorite performers. They mix and match gospel
songs, lullabies and songs of protests from all over the world.
Very cool – very intercultural.
Looks like I will be heading down to Richmond to see two plays that
each deal with how Asian ethnic groups settled in Richmond. Simon
Johnston's Rice
Rockets and Yacht People addresses recent affluent immigrants from
Shanghai and Daphne Marlatt's the Gull, deals with the Japanese
community returning to the BC Coast after internment when they had much
of their personal property and homes confiscated including their
fishing boats.
May 11th is my birthday… Hmmm… what will I do? Go for a
drive to Whistler? Go paddle a canoe, or go to the Aquarium to
see my favorite sea otter Nyack? Maybe go celebrate at Doolin's
Irish Pub, because the Halifax Wharf Rats always put on a good
show. Always a good excuse to put on the kilt too!
MUSICA INTIMA – The Canadian Concert
www.musicaintima.org
May 5, 8 pm,
Ryerson United Church (Yew St. & 45th Ave.)
May 7, 3pm
Evergreen Cultural Centre, (Coquitlam)
Wonderful 12
person self-conducted choral group sing traditional and classic
Canadian songs, including writers such as Gordon Lightfoot, Joni
Mitchell, Gilles Vigneault, Stan Rogers and many more.
THE NO SHIT SHIRLEYS
www.shirleys.ca
May 5, 8 pm,
St. James Hall (3214 W. 10th).
Local octet
performs a capella versions of Afro-Cuban Orisha music,
African-American spirituals, originals, Native American lullabies, and
Russian folk songs. Tix $16/13, info 604-736-3022.
NO GREAT MISCHIEF
Ends May 6, Mon.-Sat. at 8 pm (mats. Sat., select Wed.-Thurs. at 2 pm),
Vancouver Playhouse (Hamilton & Dunsmuir).
The Playhouse
Theatre Company presents David S. Young’s adaptation of Alistair
MacLeod’s novel that follows three generations of Clan MacDonald from
the shores of Scotland to Cape Breton Island. Starring Allan Morgan and
Duncan Fraser and directed by Dean Paul Gibson. Tix $24 to $51 (plus
service charges and fees) at Ticketmaster, 604-280-3311.
RICE ROCKETS & YACHT PEOPLE
www.gatewaytheatre.com/whatsons2.html
May 4-13,
Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond).
The Gateway’s
New Play Series presents Simon Johnston’s drama about the clash of
values between new Canadians and longtime Caucasian residents, focusing
on a well-to-do couple from Shanghai and their street-racing kids. Tix
$24/22, info www.gatewaytheatre.com/.
STRINGS AND STRIKES
May 6, 8 pm,
Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie).
Vancouver New
Music, in association with explorASIAN and Asian Heritage Month,
presents a concert of boundary-crossing musical performance by Mei Han
(zheng), Aiyun Huang (percussion), and Lee Pui Ming (piano). Tix $15/10
(plus service charges and fees) at Ticketmaster, 604-280-3311.
Alcan Dragon Boat Festival COMMUNITY PADDLING
www.adbf.com
May 7 & 14, 1:00 pm,
Dragon Zone @ Creekside Park – just south of Science World
Come learn to paddle a dragon boat – just to say that you've done
it. It's the Vancouver thing to do. A 30 minute on-land
introduction to dragon boating with safety and paddle instruction,
followed by a 30 minute paddle on False Creek including 2
mini-races. Assisted by the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
with coach Todd Wong. Lots of Fun – $2 -Please pre-register at 604 688-2382 ext 3, or email Nicole at nicole@adbf.com with names, phone number and number of participants.
AFRICAN PEACE FESTIVAL
May 7, 7:30 pm,
Unitarian Church of Vancouver (949 W. 49th
The African
Working Group of the World Peace Forum presents performances by local
African artists and musicians, DJs and dancing, and market sales of
African art, food, clothing, and gifts. May 6, 11 am–9 pm, Ukrainian
Cultural Centre (805 E. Pender). Info 604-715-4816,
www.africapeaceforum.com/.
SUSHI-MAKING WORKSHOP
May 7, 12-3 pm,
Silk Purse Arts Centre (1570 Argyle Ave., West Van.).
Learn to make both nigiri and norimaki sushi with Kinuko Hagashio. Fee $10, info 604-925-7292.
GENDER, RACE, ISLAM, AND THE WAR ON TERROR
May 11, 5-9 pm,
Heritage Hall (3102 Main) & May 13, 5-7 pm, Vancouver Public Library (350 W. Georgia).
SFU department
of women’s studies and Researchers and Academics of Colour for
Equality/Equity host a pair of community dialogues on Muslims in Canada
and the promotion of peace, democracy, and human rights, with panelists
set to include Asma Barlas of Ithaca College, Amina Jamal of Concordia
University, and Sunera Thobani of UBC. Free admission, info
rwwchair@sfu.ca.
Adrift on the Nile?
NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
May 8-14, 8 pm,
Playwrights Theatre Centre Studio (Festival House, 1398 Cartwright).
Weeklong
festival offers a preview of new scripts from emerging and established
playwrights, including Marcus Youssef and Camyar Chai’s adaptation of
Naguib Mafhouz’s Adrift on the Nile?; My friend Adrienne Wong performs with
Marcus.
By donation, info 604-685-6228.
TWELVE MINUTES MAX XXXII
May 9-10, 8 pm,
www.firehallartscentre.ca
Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova).
Showcase of
interdisciplinary live performance works lasting 12 minutes or less,
featuring 10 works curated by choreographer and Dancers Dancing
artistic director Judith Garay, playwright Jan Derbyshire, and
composer-director Ya-wen Wang. Tix $12, info 604-689-0926.
THE GULL: THE STEVESTON NOH PROJECT
May 10-14, Wed.-Sat. at 8 pm (mats. Sat.-Sun. at 2 pm),
Plaza at Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Rd.).
Pangaea Arts
presents Daphne Marlatt’s new play about Japanese-Canadian fishermen
returning to the coast after the internment. Featuring Japanese Noh
performers and Canadian theatre artists. Tix $25 at Gateway Theatre box
office, 604-270-1812, info www.pangaea-arts.com/.