Ziying Zhao, a guqin performer in the United States, is a member of The Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association and the World Chinese Musicians Association. Praised for her talent, a guqin educator from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music once remarked, “She must have been a guqin artist in her previous…
A Lao culture dancer and singer, Choummaly dances in traditional, folk, old and modern styles. She has been dancing and singing since she was five years old. Choummaly was trained and taught by multiple teachers, but mostly taught by one of the last Lao royal dancers and teachers, named Chaiphet.
Meet Vedashree Sangwikar, a lifelong trained professional Bharatnatyam dancer. She embarked on her dance journey at the age of six, exploring not only Bharatnatyam but also contemporary and Indian folk dance forms. With 20 years of performing experience, Vedashree is not just a dancer but a seasoned storyteller through movement.
Acacia is a cultural preservationist, traditional arts advocate/ musician and keeper of traditional histories. Through oral testimony and inclusive, cultural tourism, she brings together elders and youth alike to share in the oft overlooked and undertold stories of communities of color. She believes that community education is a must, and…
Kim Requesto is a Philippine born, Mission District raised Cultural Worker and Interdisciplinary Artist based in unceded Ramaytush Ohlone Territory also recognized as San Francisco, California. With an artistic foundation in Philippine folk dance, Requesto has dedicated herself to cultural expression and advocacy through movement, photography, and community outreach. Requesto…
Winnie Wong was born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco, CA. She started her training on the guzheng in 1982 at the age of four under the expertise of guzheng virtuoso, Ms. Weishan Liu. At the age of 5, she had her first debut. The unconditional bond between…
Terry Nguyen, known as “tsugaruterry,” is a musician and educator specializing in minyo (folk) and traditional music of Japan as performed on the Tsugaru shamisen and taiko drums. Terry began playing the Tsugaru shamisen in 2006. Initially self-taught, in 2010 she started her training with instructor Mitsuru Sasaki of the…
Del Harrison is a standup comedian and singer who produces live comedy and music shows. She is a a phenomenal host and hosts Let’s Talk Hair on FOX Soul as well as Up Late with Sha & Del every Sunday on iHeartRadio. She is a Comedy Store and Hollywood Improv…
Duygu Gün (pronounced as doo-EE-goo GOON). I am an arts professional, musician, artist, and curator from Turkey. With a desire to explore cultures and traditions around the world, I set on the road in 2006 and have lived in Italy, the UK, Germany, the US, and briefly in Brazil. While…
Guru Vidushi Smt. Naina Shastri is the Artistic Director of Ushanjali School of Dance, a premier Tri Valley-East Bay based South Indian Classical Dance academy. Students are trained in the Mysuru style of Bharatanatya and taught both theoretical and practical aspects of this ancient art form. Students of Ushanjali have…