Well I thought it was going to be "Silent Night" for a while but I was wrong. Three shows are coming up: one in SF, one in SJ, and one in Lancaster, PA!

Avotcja and members of Modupue w/Jon Jang, Heshima Mark Williams, and Francis Wong Jan 3 at Bird and Beckett in SF

Avotcja and members of Modupue in San Jose January 10  JAZZ & THE FIRE OF WORDSONG

Inspira: Power of the Spiritual w/Dr. Amanda Kemp, Michael Jamanis, Matthew Armstead, Gerri McCritty, and Francis Wong, Jan 18 in Lacaster, PA 

Happy New Year!

co-presented by MCA Stage & Asian Improv aRts Midwest

Taiko Legacy 12 - Sat & Sun, Dec 19 & 20, 3 pm

TL12 is a matinee and perennial favorite featuring Tsukasa Taiko. Tsukasa is celebrated for convening three generations of drummers in its ensemble and representing today's vibrant pan-Asian heritage. The core Japanese aesthetic in taiko and classical instruments and kimono dance is presented in this program, which features the dance art of grandmaster Shunojo Fujima and Yoshinojo Fujima, along with esteemed musical artists from Tokyo, grandmasters Chizuru Kineya, Kizan Kawamura, Takane Umeya, and SHINTA from Sapporo, Japan, San Francisco's Melody Takata and Gen Ensemble.

Reduction 3 - Sat, Dec 19, 7:30 pm 

Reduction forefronts taiko's central role in the3 musical experimentati8on of 1970s Tokyo. Directed by creative artist Tatsu Aoki, this hybrid program owes uch to Aoki's roots in a well-known artisan family and his role in Tokyo's new wave of performance art. Reduction explores the quieter contours of space, silence, time, weight, and visual imagery to connect the viewer to the less obvious elements of beauty inherent in today's Japanese art forms.

The unearthly Ayako Kato, originally of Yokohama and currently one of Chicago's leading contemporary dance improvisers, performs alongside formidable creative musicians including Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Ari Brown and Douglas R. Ewart on reeds. The superb percussive talents of Eigen Aoki, Hamid Drake, and Michael Zerang and SHINTA from Japan demonstrates taiko's complexity, in an extended improvisation set that also features the artists performing on snare drums and percussion. Additional guest artists in the program are Melody Takata and Francis Wong (San Francisco), Jonathan Chen (New York), and others to be announced.

At the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's Edlis Neeson Theater, 220 East Chicago Ave.

Buy tickets online: www.mcachicago.org

or call the MCA Box Office: 312.397.4010

MCA members: $16

Nonmembers: $20

Students: $10

Taiko Legacy Promotional Video

FORT MASON CENTER PRESENTS -- Lenora Lee Dance: Fire of Freedom

The General's Residence — Sep 10th through Sep 20th

Fort Mason Center Presents, in association with Asian Improv aRts, the Asian Pacific Islander API Cultural Center, and the Chinese Historical Society of America present the world premiere of Fire of Freedom by Lenora Lee Dance.

Fire of Freedom is a new multimedia immersive dance work that explores cycles of violence and healing in the context of an increasingly challenging world. Audiences travel through a labyrinth of rooms within the three-story General’s Residence, experiencing movement vignettes in a sound and visual collage designed by Lenora Lee Dance (LLD)’s innovative interdisciplinary artistic team. LLD’s work has gained increasing attention for its sustained pursuit of issues related to immigration, global conflict, human trafficking, and the impacts of these issues, particularly on women and families.

Fire of Freedom features media design by Olivia Ting, music by Francis Wong, videography directed by Tatsu Aoki, lighting by Patty Ann Farrell, and media programming by Ian Winters. Performers include Nick Brentley, Christian Felix, Larissa Fong, Marina Fukushima, Irene Hsiao, Chin-chin Hsu, Gama Hsu, Lynn Huang, SanSan Kwan, Wei-Shan Lai, Wayne Tai Lee, and David Silpa.

Audience Please Note: 

++ Comfortable footwear is encouraged.
++ Coat, purse, and bag check service is available for $2 and is highly recommended.
++ Guests may encounter situations in close proximity with performers.
++ For guests with special needs -- please contact us prior to arrival ([email protected] or (415) 345-7575).

Thursday-Sunday, September 10-20, 8:00 p.m.
$16-$20 (General Admission)
$30-$50 (Arts Patron, includes reserved seating)
$12-$16 (Student Rate)
$10 (Group Rate per person, minimum eight tickets purchased in advance online only)
More Information: [email protected] & www.LenoraLeeDance.com

BUY TICKETS (or call (415) 345-7575)

VENUE: The General's Residence (show less)

For more details click here

For more information click here

Wow, it's almost here!

Saturday, May 30 7:00pm
Festival Central, Bldg A, Fort Mason Center
2 Marina Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94123
United States
Tickets: $15-$30 General Admission and Reserved Seating

Presented by San Francisco International Arts Festival, Asian Pacific Island Cultural Center, Lenora Lee Dance and Asian Improv aRts

Taking inspiration from his grandfather, Francis Wong has created a work in four movements called WONG WEI'S GAMBLE. Wong Wei was a professional jockey and a business manager who dared to re-open the international race track in in Tianjin, China during the Japanese occupation in World War II. It was a risky move: but he did it to provide employment, entertainment, and community for his city during this dark period.

Artists featured: Francis Wong, Tatsu Aoki, Lenora Lee, John-Carlos Perea, Yangqin Zhao, Karen Stackpole, Deszon X. Claiborne, Karl Evangelista.
BUY TICKETS HERE!

I am pleased to participate in the annual Joice Alley Celebration and Cameron Carnival this Saturday May 2 in San Francisco Chinatown in Joice Alley between Sacramento and Clay Streets. I will be joining a lot of great artists associated with the community there: Singer/Songwriter Charlie Chin, Corey Chan and Kei Lun Martial Arts, dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee, and of course my ensemble the Francis Wong Unit with special guest Okinawan singer Wesley Ueunten featuring Karl Evangelista (guitar) Karen Stackpole (gongs and trapset drums). Lenora will also be joining us. My group will perform sets at 1 pm and 2 pm. Click here for the details.

For more info click here!

I am excited to be a part of Genryu Arts' 20th Anniversary celebration! I will be performing with a stellar cast put together by Artistic Director Melody Takata (taiko, dance) featuring Tatsu Aoki (bass, shamisen, taikoi) and Kioto Aoki (taiko), and two Grandmasters from Tokyo: Chizuru Kineya (shamisen - 3 stringed lute), and Michikaoru Hanayagi (Japanese classical dance). The concert is free with admiission to the Museum. Hope to see you! Click here for the details!