Celebration Night

Celebration Night is one of the main events of Asian American Week. It is a showcase of the talent of mostly Fresno City College Students. They will sing, dance, play musical instruments, act, and exhibit their skills for you.  According to Lee Herrick, English instructor, the inaugural Celebration Night Show was one of the best shows that he has ever seen on this campus. We have thirteen acts confirmed to perform for the evening of April 1, 2004 in the Fresno City College Theater. Tickets at $2 each will go on sale in March.

Confirmed Acts:

1. Japanese Taiko Drumming by Clovis Heiwa Taiko

2. Asian Fashion Show by Poly Asians for Communication and Knowledge Club of FCC

3. The Slow and Serious, comedy skit, by Chamnann and Crew

4. Cambodian Song by Calida Arunson

5. Guitar Songs by Kongmeng Thao and Friends

6.  Filipino Dance by Bayanihan Association of America

8. Lion Dance by John Cho's Lion Dance Team

9. Hmong and English Songs by Mai and Pa

10. Music by the Sokty Vann Band

11. Filipino song by Edwin Macareng

12. Chinese Martial Arts by John Cho's Kung-fu School

Introduction of Some of the Performers:

Chamnann Kim Srun is the creator of one of the most popular acts from the Celebration Night Shows of 2002 and 2003. He wrote, directed and acted in his Once Upon a Time in Fresno comedy martial arts skits. The 2004 performance will complete the trilogy with Wong Fei Hong and Tai Mai Shu in a street racing scenario. Chamnann is a computer science major. He grew up in the Fresno area. He enjoys performing in front of an audience and has a passion for the the theater.  He is the president of the Asian Martial Arts Club of Fresno City College.

Chamnann Kim Srun Chamnann and Crew

	Kongmeng Thao has performed in Celebration Night for the previous two years. He has played the memorable father of the famous Wong Fei Hung in the Once Upon a Time in Fresno comedy skits as well as playing guitar with his friends. Kongmeng has been an active member of the PACK club and oversees the publication of the Orientale. He has designed the covers for this student literary magazine.
Kongmeng Thao Kongmeng and Friends

	Heiwa means peace: the group has been performing since 1998 under the direction Maseba sensei (master teacher) and sempai (assistant Instructor) Stephanie Yamamoto. The performers range in age from 10-50. Many are related as members of the same family. The group has performed at judo tournaments, churches, cultural events, and schools.
Clovis Heiwa Taiko Japanese Taiko

Calida Arunson is fluent in the Khmer language. She wants to help keep the Khmer culture alive in America. As part of her efforts, Calida is an assistant instructor with  KEEP, the program to educate Cambodian youth on their language and culture in the Fresno area. The song that she wants to sing can be  translated as "Flowing Water." It is a sad love song. This song was originally recorded before the war and has a ballroom flavor. The singer laments over a lost lover; so the song's title becomes a metaphor for how love and water are similar.

Calida Arunson Cambodian Singer

Although many non-Chinese refer to this animal as a dragon, the Chinese call it a lion.  In fact, the Chinese lion is a mythical composite of several animals such as having scales like a snake and a single horn like a rhinoceros. The lion represents hopes for health, prosperity, and happiness. John Cho's Lion Dance Team is directed by Reggie Lamborn who has been performing with the team for over ten years. The team performs during Chinese New Year, Amerasia Week at Fresno State, and other community events.

John Cho's Lion Dance Team Chinese Lion Dance

Video Clips

Click on the images below to view some video from last years Celebration Night