Events

SPRING INTO UPTOWN: A Cultural Celebration of Traditions, Food, & Fun

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

11:00 – 11:15	Blessing from Wat Promwachirayan Thai Buddhist Monks	Thai Buddhist monks from Wat Promwachirayan will present a blessing to begin the event, with chanting performed in the Bali language, per Thai Buddhist tradition. Wat Promwachirayan’s mission is to continue the teachings of the Buddha as a World Heritage Site, serve as a center of spiritual growth for Thai Buddhists, and serve as the center of art and culture for Thais in Minnesota. Wat Promwachirayan practices Theravada Buddhism and is dedicated to engaging and supporting people of all backgrounds in the Twin Cities through meditation, arts, cultural activities, and community events.
11:15 – 11:30	Northern Thai Dancer Parade	Northeastern Thai Dancer parade. The dance brings the vibe of the festive, colorful clothing, and fun faster paced music.
1:00 – 1:30	Flower Blessing Thai Dance	Northern Thai style. Throwing flowers, umbrellas, Thai fans, announcing spring is coming.
1:45 – 2:15	Wahacankahla, Ringing Shield Singers	Wahacankahla, Ringing Shield Singers, is a Tiospaye Cancega, a traditional family drum led by Wakinyan and Thorne LaPointe, Sicangu Lakota brothers. They are Oceti Sakowin, Seven Council Fires storytellers and offer cultural programming in the American Indian community. Joining them will be a traditional dancer to demonstrate the extraordinary meaning of Lakota songs as they dance to the heartbeat of their Nation. Thorne and Wakinyan will share about the original music of the western hemisphere and offer songs that speak to centuries of history and resiliency of the Lakota people and Oceti Sakowin. Wahacankahla has been a featured presenter at local, national, and international forums and events
2:30 – 3:15	Kalpulli Ketzalcoatlicue Aztec Dance	Driving drum rhythms and dazzling costumes hold participants interest, and through each step the dancer in full regalia gives life to the symbols of the dance. The dancers are rooted in cultural understandings of the environment weaving together the Nahuatl cosmovision and creation stories of the Mexican ancestors. The Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue (“Precious Mother Earth”) is a Kalpulli (“learning community”) of Indigenous people joined by the desire to learn, share and live the tradition of Aztec dance. KetzalCoatlicue pursues this spiritual, mental, and physical vocation with music from the sacred drum, conch shells, seeds and other instruments gifted by the natural environment.
3:30 – 4:00	Grupo de Danzas Colombianas	Grupo de Danzas Colombianas in MN is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Colombian folkloric dance.  Founded 20 years ago with adults performing a combination of modern Latin dance rhythms and Colombian folkloric dances. The organization has expanded to include children and teens focusing on Colombian Folklore only.  Grupo de Danzas Colombianas is comprised of an incredibly diverse group of people without distinction of creed or nationality.  The goal of Grupo de Danzas Colombianas is to support and cultivate Colombian culture and create awareness in the community of the enormous natural wealth and richness in culture and beauty that characterizes Colombia.

SPONSORED BY:

  

ARTISTS AND VENDORS:

Raju Lamichhane
Rock Johnsen
Spoon and Theory
Mahieu Spaid
D. M’Chelle
Jerry Roberts Narrow Crafts
Shushu Henna Tattoo
Thai Arts
Germanic-American Institute
Nagasaki Sister City Committee
Bodyology
Prodeo Academy
Mi Sota Essence

FOOD:

Amazing Thailand Uptown
Habanero Tacos
Cafe Cairo