ImprovisAsians 2008! - “Origins of Now”
April 14 – 18, 2008
A collaborative presentation of Asian Improv aRts and the San Francisco State University Jazz and World Music Studies Program.

ImprovisAsians! 2008 at San Francisco State University College of Creative Arts will be a program of public dialogue, workshops and performances exploring the intersection of traditionality and hybridity in the formation of community. Featured guests include ethnomusicologist Deborah Wong, Japanese American dancer/choreographer/taiko artist Melody Takata, Korean vocalist/instrumentalist Dohee Lee, and SF State faculty and alumni performers.

All events will take place at San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue.

Monday, April 14, 2008
Opening Lecture/Performance: “Origins of Now” with Melody Takata and Dohee Lee
11:10 am – 12:25 pm Knuth Hall, Room 132, Creative Arts Building

Performance: Melody Takata’s Interdisciplinary piece “Shochikubai” and works by Dohee Lee
1:10 – 2 pm Knuth Hall, Room 132, Creative Arts Building

“Spoken Louder”: Presentation by ethnomusicologist and author from UC Riverside Deborah Wong
6:10 – 8:50 pm Room 135, Creative Arts Building

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Panel Discussion: “Hybrid in-Formation” with guests Wayne Wallace, John-Carlos Perea, Genny Lim
Approaches to the integration of diverse cultural experiences in performance practice
6:10 – 8:50 pm Room 146, Creative Arts Building

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
“History, Art, Activism and Agency” with Wesley Ueunten, Francis Wong
10:10 am – 11:00 am Room 130, HSS Building

“Hybridity, Music and Metaphor: Making Community In The Moment” with Wesley Ueunten, Francis Wong
11:10 am – 12:00 pm Room 101, EP (Ethnic Studies and Psychology)

Friday, April 18, 2008
“Generation Next!”
Special performance of SF State Creative World Music students under the direction of Professor Hafez Modirzadeh with special guest Francis Wong.
1:10 – 2 pm Knuth Hall, Room 132, Creative Arts Building

“Sound (Come) Unity!”
7:30 pm Knuth Hall, Room 132, Creative Arts Building
Admission: $10 General, Students – Free!

A Performance Event benefiting the San Francisco State World Music and Dance Program, featuring Professor Hafez Modirzadeh leading a special ensemble of SF State faculty and alumni performers including:
Francis Wong, Hafez Modirzadeh: saxophones, reeds
John Calloway: flute, percussion
John-Carlos Perea: electric bass, cedar flute, Lakota vocals, pow-wow drum
Nasim Gorgani: Persian daff
Kevin Washington: drums
Isabel Douglass: accordion
Jose Cuellar: accordion, reeds
Tom Edler: bass
Danongan Kalanduyan: kulintang
Wesley Ueunpen: sanshin, vocals
Matthew Shenoda: poetry
Avotcja: poetry
Saed Muhssin: Arabic Oud

For more information: call Asian Improv aRts (415) 908-3636, email francis@asianimprov.org, or visit www.asianimprov.org

ImprovisAsians 2008! - “Origins of Now” is funded in part by Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Cultural Equity Grants/San Francisco Arts Commission.