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Dear CDBF Community-
This time of year is always exciting! We launched registration for Race Teams, we're taking applications for Performing Arts, Gateway to Asia and Cultural Unity and will soon begin to accept Vendor applications.
It's thrilling to see how popular dragon boat racing has become -- the race teams are filling up fast, and the popular Flag Catching Division is already taking teams on a wait list.
If you were thinking about the Flag Catcher division, you might consider the Hong Kong Style division -- those boats are sleeker and faster, and just as fun to race. And this year, we're matching up teams according to their skill level and previous experience, and every team will get to race more times than ever before.
For potential Marketplace and Taste of Asia vendors, be sure to check the website on Feb. 20th. If you want to receive the call for vendors e-mail, sign up to receive our newsletter -- you can choose which news releases you wish to receive.
By the way, if you're interested in giving a performance or demonstration in our Find Zen area which celebrates the many Asian traditions that promote good health and stress-free living, this year Find Zen moves from Gateway to Asia to the Wellness Village, which is all about health. Speaking of healthy lifestyles, we're proud to announce that we have joined Team Beachbody as an Independent Beachbody Coach. You can read more below, but you can keep track of your workouts, and a portion of any purchases you make from Beachbody's great variety of workouts, equipment and supplements will help support CDBF. I also want to welcome two more Operations Committee members to the CDBF team! Permit me to brag for a moment...CDBF is fortunate to now have 20 volunteer Chairs taking lead roles in producing the festival! This is the largest Operations Committee in the history of the festival.
Until next month,
Erin Yoshimura
Executive Director
www.cdbf.org
FYI: there are only 163 days until the festival!
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Calling All Race Teams!
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 We're accepting applications now for the 2012 Dragon Boat Races
As in 2011, two types of boats will be used this year at CDBF: Taiwan style aka "Flag Catching" boats and the international standard "Hong Kong" style boats, which are lighter, lower and faster, for competitive racers.
Both types of boats feature drummers to keep time and urge on the paddlers.
This year teams will get to participate in more races before elimination, and be better matched with other teams on the basis of skills and previous experience.
Read the team requirements and register your 2012 race team, but hurry, the slots are filling fast!
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Calling All Performers!
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 The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival engages and educates audiences with exciting and colorful performances, diverse demonstrations and enlightening, educational exhibits on several stages throughout the weekend.
We're now accepting applications from performers to showcase their talents for CDBF 2012!
We're looking for groups and individuals for our Main Performing Arts Stage, Gateway To Asia (including a martial arts showcase stage) and the very popular Cultural Unity Hip-Hop stage.
Check out our various stages and click to each area's performance requirements and application forms! |
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Vendors applications open Feb. 20
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 Anyone who's attended the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival knows that part of the fun of the weekend at Sloan's Lake is shopping for gifts, toys, arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing and those indispensable parasols to give yourself some shade. And part of the experience is trying the cuisines of Asia without leaving Denver, by cruising through the Taste of Asia food court.
Shopping and dining at CDBF is like strolling through a huge bazaar in the opposite side of the world, and a cultural education in itself. We're now accepting applications for the 12th annual festival!
The applications for Marketplace and Taste of Asia Vendors will open on Feb. 20 -- sign up here if you want to be notified via email!
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Newcomers to our Operations Committee
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The mostly volunteer Operations Committee that brings you the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival every year is an amazing, energetic and passionate group of leaders who bring their skills and talents to their roles in the festival. We'd like to introduce you to our two newest Operations Committee members (you can see the full list on our website).
TESIA CHEN - MEDIA COMMITTEE
 Tesia is a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she studied philosophy and English. Afterwards, she returned to her home state, having heard the siren call of the mountains and of Colorado's hot, hypnotic summers. Tesia has celebrated dragon boat festivals since childhood, and is very excited for her first year being able to bring the festival to life here in Colorado. Her passions are for languages and bringing people together. With her love of these two things, she works to assist in communicating with local and out of state communities about the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
JAEJIN KIM - COMMUNITY OUTREACH
 Jaejin Kim has a M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, and has worked in varied aspects in behavioral health and the non-profit sector, including research, counseling, and executive administration. During her undergraduate studies at Miami University, she served as VP of Campus Affairs for the Korean Student Association, and delegate to the Diversity Affairs Council. She is passionate about cultural diversity and education, the arts and humanities, and is currently working on a writing project inspired by her mother. She has volunteered for CDBF in the past as part of the performing arts committee, and is honored and excited to be involved once again.
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Join the CDBF Fitness Club
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CDBF has made a commitment to wellness for the upcoming 2012 dragon boat season and beyond. As part of this initiative we have joined Team Beachbody® (creators of P90X®, Shakeology®, Insanity®, etc.) as an Independent Beachbody Coach. This partnership creates fund raising, community building, and team building opportunities within an ideal fitness program for the sport of dragon boating.
Come join our FREE CDBF Beachbody Fit Club, and support CDBF -- membership is free, but if you purchase any Beachbody products, we'll receive a portion of the proceeds.
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All Wrapped Up With No Place To Go
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 Our boats are hiding from the weather. We thought we'd show you how our Flag Catching boats are protected by a heavy-duty cover during the off-season at Standley Lake Park in Westminster, where all our boats are stored year-round.
Standley Lake is also where race teams practice for their races in the weeks before the festival.
When we started the festival 12 years ago, we had to rent our boats every summer. Over the years we've purchased two Flag Catching Boats, shown here, and right next to them, two Hong Kong style boats.
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| Don't Miss These Asian Movies in Boulder |
 The Boulder International Film Festival kicks off this week and features three fascinating Asian movies worth checking out.
Among the films you can see "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," a documentary about Jiro Ono (left), an 85-year-old master sushi chef in Japan who's acknowledged as one of the best in the world, but is still striving for sushi perfection. The movie screens at 10 am Friday.
Other films include "The Lady" about Myanmar opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, which screens at 2:30 pm Sunday; and "Somewhere Between," a documentary that follows four Chinese adoptees as they go through adolescence and struggle with their identities, which screens at 2:45 Sunday.
You can find more information about the films below or online in our Asian Community Calendar listings, or see the whole schedule for the Boulder International Film Festival at the BIFF website.
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Upcoming Asian Community Events
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CDBF has the most complete and updated listings of local Asian and Asian American events on our Community Calendar.
If you don't see an event here in the newsletter, be sure to check our Calendar online -- it's updated as we receive announcements. Submit your Asian community event information with a brief description to calendar@cdbf.org .
ONGOING
APDC needs food donations for refugee communities
The APDC is collecting food items donations for refugee clients (especially at their behavioral health clinic) who have been struggling to get by. These clients include people from the Bhutanese and Burmese communities. They have been running out of food for their families and are in HUGE need of food donations. Any items such as rice, oil, ramen noodles, soy sauce, canned fish, canned fruit or vegetables will be extremely helpful for the families. Donations can be dropped off at either APDC office, or, for questions or inquiries, please call either office:
York office - 1825 York St. Denver, CO | 303.393.0304
Elmira Office - 1544 Elmira St. Aurora, CO 80010 | 303.365.2959 x 102
FEBRUARYNAAAP Colorado Networking Event When: Wed. Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30 pm Where: Japoix, 975 Lincoln Street, Denver Cost: Free Join us for drinks and appetizers at Japoix. Meet NAAAP Colorado's 2012 Leadership Team and learn about some exciting new programs our organization has in store for the year. Network with other Asian-American professionals and find your place in NAAAP. Please visit www.naaapcolorado.org to RSVP by registering for the event. Ka Papa 'Olelo Hawai'i, a beginning Hawaiian language class When: Starts Wed. Feb. 15, 7-8:30 pm for 10 sessions through April 25, 2012, with a holiday on March 28 Where: KGNU Studios, 4700 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado, 80301 Cost: $75 for Pi'ilani members not including books and supplies; $150 non-Pi'ilani members Pi'ilani Hawaiian Civic Club of Colorado is happy to announce we are conducting Ka Papa 'Olelo Hawai'i, a beginning Hawaiian language class, beginning Wednesday, February 15, 2012. The class will be taught by Pi'ilani member and CU Linguistics Professor Andrew Cowell (assisted by Puahau Aki). The number of spaces for this class is limited (maximum of 30), so anyone interested in taking this class must sign up in advance. There is a non-refundable tuition fee and registration is required before classes begin. Details and registration form are available online at www.piilani.org It's About Relating - It's About China: Artist's Talk By Wang Gongxin When: Artist Talk February 16, 6-8pm; exhibit runs through March 11. Where: RedLine, 2350 Arapahoe Street, Denver CO 80205 Cost: Free Known as the godfather of Chinese video art, WANG Gongxin's first solo exhibition in the United States will be on display at RedLine this January. WANG Gongxin is one of China's earliest and most influential video artists and his innovative conceptual videos reveal a deeply personal critique of contemporary life in China today. Organized by the Asian Art Coordinating Council and curated by Dr. Julie Seagraves, this exhibitoin will feature four video installations by Wang - My Sun, Always Welcome, Forward, and It's About Ya. Ranging from 2-18 screens per piece, this vanguard exhibition will bring visitors through an immersive video experience that explores the artist's reflections on contemporary and past chinese culture. In addition to the exhibition, RedLine & The Asian Art Coordinating Council will co-sponsor an artist talk with Wang on Thursday, February 16th from 6-8pm. This event is free and open to the public. "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" documentary at Boulder International Film Festival When: Friday Feb. 17, 10 am Where: First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce St, Boulder Cost: $8-10 This is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, a national treasure of Japan and considered the world's greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of a 10-seat restaurant in a Tokyo subway station, which is the first sushi restaurant to be awarded a prestigious 3-star Michelin review, and food lovers from around the world call months in advance for a coveted -- and expensive -- seat at Jiro's sushi bar. Even at his age, Jiro sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. At the heart of this story is Jiro's relationship with his son, the worthy heir to Jiro's legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father's shadow. Preview the film here: http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/. Check the BIFF website for full schedule and information: http://www.biff1.com. Project Renew: Lao Buddhist Temple Benefit Event When: Saturday, February 18, 6:30-8:30 pm Where: Davis Auditorium at University of Denver Sturm Hall Cost: $5 -- all proceeds go to the Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado Rebuilding Fund On December 5th, 2011, the Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado in Westminster burnt down. A pillar of hope and strength for the Laotian community was destroyed in a matter of hours. In an attempt to help those affected by this tragedy, Pioneer Breakers and Next Generation Voices have decided to throw a benefit showcase in order to raise donations to rebuild the temple. This performance and exhibition will include various hip-hop and cultural dances to illustrate how the Asian and hip-hop community will rise in solidarity for the Laotian community. Performers include: Hype 303, BreakEFX, Street Styles, Soundless Flow, Machinez Remainz, Lao Buddhist Temple Wannakhadee Group, Mudra Dance Studio, Spirit of Cambodia Cultural Alliance and Denver Taiko. You can sign up for an All Styles Battle at the door. JACL Day of Remembrance Event: "Life Beyond Barbed Wire" When: Sunday February 19, 1-3 pm Where: Sturm College of Law at University of Denver, 2255 E. Evans, Denver Cost: Free, the public is invited Join JACL for it annual even commemorating the Day of Remembrance, the date that Pres. Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry in American concentration camps during World War II. THis year's event features CU Doctoral candidate Christian Heimburger speaking on "Life Beyond Barbed Wires." There will be a display of artifacts from Amache, the concentration camp in southeast Colorado, and refreshments will be served. "The Lady" feature film at Boulder International Film Festival When: Sunday February 19, 2:30 pm Where: Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, CO, 80302 Cost: $8-10 It's July 19, 1947. Future Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is on the knee of her father, Aung San, who is leading his country to independence from Britain. Her father then goes to a cabinet meeting, where he is assassinated. Years later, while in school in Oxford, Aung San Suu Kyi falls in love and marries Oxford academic Michael Aris, and has two sons. She returned to Burma in 1988 to visit her ailing mother and was swept up in the democracy protests, becoming the symbol of the Burmese people's struggle against military rule. She spent years in prison or under house arrest. When Aris was dying of cancer in 1999, the junta denied him entry to Burma to see his wife for the last time, while Suu Kyi refused to leave for fear she couldn't return. Beautifully acted and sumptuously filmed, The Lady is both a heartbreaking and triumphant portraint of one of the most courageous people of our time. Preview the film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMYAzQC3UjI. For more information and full schedule, visit the BIFF website: http://www.biff1.com. "Somewhere Between" feature documentary at Boulder International Film Festival When: Sunday February 19, 2:45 pm Where: Boulder High School Theater, 1604 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO, 80302 Cost: $8-10 For teenaged girls, when "belonging" means everything, this film offers rare insight into a group of girls unsure of where they belong. It began when Linda Knowlton and her husband adopted a young girl from China, and Linda decided to look into her daughter's future as a trans-racial teenage adoptee in America. As a result of China's "One Child Policy," over 800,000 young Chinese girls have been adopted into American families since 1989. This deeply moving film follows four strong young women as they navigate the treacherous shoals of adolescence, struggling to make sense of their lives. Through these young women, and their explorations of who they are, we ourselves pause to consider who we are-- both as individuals and as a nation of immigrants. (Due to the emotional subject matter, this film is not recommended for ages 14 or under.) Preview the film here: http://www.somewherebetweenmovie.com/. For more information and full schedule, visit the BIFF website: http://www.biff1.com. Yen Shun Chinese Performing Arts When: Wed. & Thur. Feb. 22-23, 7:30 pm Where: Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 992 14th Street Denver, Colorado 80204 Cost: $50-$150 Shen Yun presents colorful and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music. A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization. Every year, Shen Yun unveils an entirely new lineup of dances, songs, and musical scores. At the core of Shen Yun's performances is classical Chinese dance with China's numerous ethnic and folk dance styles rounding out the evening. Presented by Falun Dafa Association of Colorado, purchase tickets online at http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/shenyun2012/city/seating-chart/city//eid/DdmEAyX1lok On the Border: A Report on North Korean Refugees When: Thur. Feb. 23, 6-8:30 pm Where: Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora, CO 80012 Cost: Free The National Unification Advisory Council, North America Denver Chapter and the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership invite you to "On the Border," a documentary produced by South Korean media outlet The Chosun Ilbo about the plight of North Korean refugees along the shared border with China and also covers issues of famine, human trafficking of North Korean women, and drug dealing by the North Korean Army. "On the Border" has been broadcast on various international media outlets such as the BBC and PBS. It is the winner of numerous awards including the 2008 Sony Impact Award from the Rory Peck Trust and a Special Recognition from the International Parliamentarians' Coalition for the North Korean Refugees' Human Rights. The film begins at 6pm followed by a Q&A opportunity with a North Korean refugee living in the United States and a small reception. Seating is limited so come early. (Not recommended for Children.) MARCH 44th Annual Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri)When: Sat. & Sun. March 3-4, 11:30 am-4 pm Where: Simpson United Methodist Church, 6001 Wolff St., Arvada Cost: Free Immerse yourself in the culture of Japan with the 44th annual Hina Matsuri, or Japanese Doll Festival. There will be displays of handmade dolls, crafts and entertaiment and demonstrations including calligraphy, origami, tea ceremony, bonsai, ikebana (flower arranging), Japanese and Okinawan dancing, martial arts, music and more, as well as Bento Box lunches for a fee while supplies last. Kyoutaku Taiko Drummers When: Wed. March 14, 7 pm Where: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver 2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver Cost: $25 The world-renowned Kyougaku Drummers will amaze you with a powerful performance as part of their "Arigatou" Drumming World Tour, expressing Japan's appreciation for United States' support during the days following the 3/11/11 earthquake. Events coordinated by Nippon Kan of Denver, Colorado. More information and video at . APRIL
"The Joy Luck Club" stage production at The Vintage Theater
When: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays April 13-May 13 (Fri.-Sat. 7:30 pm, Sun. 2:30 pm pus Sat. matinee on May 12, 2:30 pm) Where: 2119 E. 17th Ave., Denver 80206 Cost: Free Through a series of flashbacks, four young Chinese women born in America and their respective mothers born in feudal China, explore their past. This search will help them understand their mother/daughter relationship. Don't miss the local stage production of Amy Tan's book, directed by Craig A. Bond and featuring Donna Hansen from Denver's Asian American community in one of the starring roles. Check the website or call for dates and times or to purchase tickets: http://www.vintagetheatreproductions.com/?page_id=31, 303-839-1361
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| About the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival |  Your Weekend Passport to Asia and the Pacific- Dragon Boat Races. Cultural Education. Performing Arts. Food. Marketplace.
About CDBF
Founded in 2001 to celebrate Colorado's diverse Asian Pacific American (APA) communities, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, has become the region's fastest growing, family-friendly summer festival. CDBF offers festival-goers the opportunity to explore APA culture through performances, educational programs, arts and crafts, shopping, dining and the exciting athletic competition of dragon boat racing.
Contact Information: 11049 West 44th Avenue Suite 110 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 T: 303-953-7277 F: 303-953-7278 Toll-free: 877.716.BOAT (2628)
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2012 SPONSORS COMMUNTY PARTNER:
ASSOCIATE SPONSOR: MillerCoors |
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