Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage with live music, dance, food and family art activities at Alameda’s beautiful Bohol Circle Immigrant Park!
Experience a lively array of music and dance from local performing ensembles including traditional Hawaiian hula from Alameda’s very own Hālau Makana, folk music from the Philippines with The Sampaguitas, exciting Punjabi folk dance with Dholrhythms Dance Company of Non Stop Bhangra and vibrant drumming from South Korea with Korean Culture Center – Urisawe, and more.
Participate in hands-on art activities for kids and tickle your tastebuds with mouthwatering Asian and Pacific inspired foods – all while enjoying the beautiful waterfront views.
The Rhythmix Asian & Pacific Islander Arts & Culture Festival is produced in partnership with the City of Alameda’s Recreation and Park Department and is supported in part by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Featured Performers
Hālau Makana’s mission is to preserve the Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Māori cultures through dance, art and music, sharing these cultural art forms with the community and anyone who has a desire to learn.
Hālau Makana is the only professional Polynesian Dance Company located in Alameda, California.
Founded by performer/teacher Me Sook Ko (originally from Seoul, Korea), Korean Culture Center – Urisawe is dedicated to promoting and cultivating Korean cultural awareness through the performing arts in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Built and supported by parents, students and office workers, Urisawe promotes cultural diversity by performing at community and multi-cultural events throughout the Bay Area and offers traditional Korean dance and music classes with professional artists and teachers.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Sampaguitas sing Filipino folk songs and inspired originals in three-part harmony. Drawing influences from folk, blues, doo-wop girl groups, and the Filipinx-American diaspora, Jenevieve Francisco, Cristina Ibarra, and Aireene Espiritu share music from their roots and explore what it means to be in a “third culture” between worlds. The sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines and only fitting to describe the sweet sounds coming from their melded vocal textures, tones, and tight harmonies.
Dholrhythms is an all-women dance company dedicated to celebrating the vibrant rhythms and cultural heritage of Punjab, India. For over 20 years, Dholrhythms has created a welcoming and joyful space where people of all backgrounds can experience the infectious energy of Punjabi music and dance.
Founded in 2008, the organization serves the Samoan/Pasefika community in the San Francisco Bay Area, evolving from a Samoan Arts & Cultural Festival idea to addressing broader community needs. Guided by values of service, respect, and love, they offer programs that preserve Samoan language and culture while adapting to the challenges faced by their community. Over 15 years, they’ve partnered with others to create a brighter future, honoring the legacy of their ancestors and empowering future generations.
Proud to be the first and currently only Vietnamese-American dance school in the Bay Area, Viet Steps believes that dance training is life training. Viet Steps instructors are highly trained professional dancers who believe in building a solid foundation of technique in all of their dance disciplines including traditional Vietnamese, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Dancesport. Founded in 2017, Viet Steps has brought traditional Vietnamese dance to Lunar New Year festivals, Moon Festivals and other events throughout the Bay Area.
Based in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Lion Dance ME specializes in traditional Chinese lion dance, music, and entertainment. What began as a high school club has grown into a thriving organization offering programs in schools across the city. Recently featured in Sarasota, Florida’s annual Winter Wonderland hosted by Nik Wallenda and The Circus Arts Conservatory, Lion Dance ME has also been showcased on America’s Got Talent and made history with the first female Western Lion King title. Dedicated to preserving the cultural art of dragon and lion dance, Lion Dance ME continues to inspire through its youth programs and performances throughout San Francisco and beyond.
The Oakland Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe preserves and promotes Cambodian traditional dance through education, performance, and community engagement. For over 25 years, they have empowered youth, fostered cross-cultural understanding, and enriched Oakland’s cultural tapestry. Supporting artistic growth, they provide opportunities for creative expression while preserving Khmer heritage through an archive of dance, costumes, music, and history.
Support the Arts in Your Community
Sign Up to Volunteer! From setup to check-in, help support the arts.
Become a Sponsor! If you’d like to be a sponsor for the Asian and Pacific Islander Arts and Culture Festival or other Rhythmix programming, please contact: info@rhythmix.org
This event is made possible with support from:
Banner photo credit: Alvaro Batista Photography.