Since 2002, the month of May has been officially designated as Asian Heritage Month, which is celebrated in cities across Canada, including here in Montreal !
This week, Gen’s Delights introduces you to exciting cultural events in the city that celebrate the beauty of Asian heritage:
Festival Accès Asie (cinema, music, visual arts, dance, literature, culinary events )
MAY 1st, 2018 – MAY 27th, 2018
Following Asian Heritage Month, for three weeks the festival’s program echoes its mandate to extend the reach of Asian art, culture, and history through a wide variety of artistic disciplines that recognizes the long and rich history of Asian Canadian artists and their numerous contributions to Canada’s Art sphere.
The festival was established in response to the Asian communities’ desire to strengthen their artistic presence in the Québec cultural climate.
70 artists from here and abroad and 20 multidisciplinary events are featured in their 2018 program, offering a variety of works from new media to visual arts, contemporary dance, film, music, and literature to concerts, performances, exhibitions, conferences, and workshops to raise public awareness of Asian arts in a more inclusive way.
Several activities are free of change but do require reservation .
For a complete list of activities please visit the festival’s website:
SUTRA – Sadler’s Wells
Place des Arts \ Danse Danse
To bring to a spectacular close the 20th season of DANSE DANSE, choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui was proud to bring to Montreal his magnificent work SUTRA– which ran until May 9th at Salle Maisonneuve of Place des Arts.
Sutra invited its audience to discover the fascinating and usually hidden universe of Kung Fu.
Since its creation ten years ago, the show has been praised in 66 cities and 33 countries and continues to captivate audiences across the globe with its unique set of 21 giant boxes – designed by sculptor Anthony Gormley that puts the stage in constant evolution.
The principal dancer, Ali Thabet, is on a personal journey to learn Kung Fu. He learns rituals and animal forms (crane, tiger and snake) from 19 authentic Shaolin Kung Fu Masters hailed from China who move in quasi synchronicity as they stack, push, jump over and maneuver the giant wooden boxes across the stage.
Throughout his journey, Thabet is shadowed by a very talented and feisty youth that is also being initiated to the sacred Buddhist traditions.
Matching the rhythm of these physically straining exercises is resounding music performed live by five on stage musicians, including the Polish composer Szymon Brzóska that brings a unique depth to the piece.
It was a real chance to be able to enjoy Sadler’s Wells’ Sutra in Montreal.
For those who wish to catch the show, DANSE DANSE has set up a Canadian tour for SUTRA in four cities (Quebec May 1st, Montreal May 3rd to 9th, Toronto May 12th and Sherbrooke May 15th ).
For more information please visit:
http://www.dansedanse.ca/fr/sadlers-wells-sutra
YCPA 2018 Orchid Ball
The signature event of many ethnic community in Montreal inevitably ends up being a gala, a chance for members to dress to the nines and celebrate their heritage in full glory.
One such splendid event that you should not miss if you love Asian culture is the up-coming Orchid Ball, an exquisite evening that directly benefits the Young Chinese Professional Association and that will be held this Saturday May 12 at Alexandra Pier in the Old Port of Montreal.
Over 550 elite guests will be present to celebrate Asian Heritage Month and showcase the great influence of Canadian companies in the Tourism and Arts industry in China and Asia.
As the most celebrated event of the Asian community, those in attendance will be treated to an open bar and enjoy various breathtaking artistic performances which have included in the past, spectacular circus acts from Cirque Eloize alongside more traditional performances such as the acrobatic lion dance by the Montreal Chan lion dance club.
This annual event has become the reference for other chambers of commerce and professional associations and promises to be an evening that will be nothing short of an unforgettable experience.
For corporate table, please email Jean-Benoît Solinas (jbsolinas.ycpa@gmail.com)
For more information and tickets for the Orchid ball, please visit:
https://ycpa.ca/products/orchid-ball-2018
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