FIUTS CulturalFest 2022 Lineup

We're excited to announce this year's incredible lineup of talented performers from all over the world at the FIUTS CulturalFest Performance Showcase 2022. These amazing individuals and groups will share music and dance at Meany Hall on Saturday, February 19, 2022. Keep an eye out on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for when Tickets go on sale!

This year's CulturalFest performers are:

Natya UW

Natya UW is the University of Washington's premier competitive Indian classical dance team. Founded in 2009, Natya's mission is to make Indian classical dance exciting, impactful, and accessible to all audiences. As young people who have been trained in Indian classical dance but also have been exposed to several other cultures, we incorporate music and stories from a variety of countries and cultures in our performances. We aim to pay homage to the pioneers of Indian classical dance and at the same time develop diverse pieces through our unique music choice, choreography, and other performance effects. Natya has performed at over 90 events, ranging from local cultural festivals to national-level competitions, and is proud to have placed 3rd at the Origins National Classical Dance Championship in 2021.

Natya UW will be showing the story of Karna, a Hindu demigod, whose skill in archery leads him to win a royal archery competition and become leader of his friend Duryodhana’s army in the Kurukshetra War. Karna’s past sneaks upon him when his birth mother, Princess Kunti reveals to Karna that his half-brother, Arjuna is on the opposing side of the war and pleads him to not fight for this reason. Karna is enraged by his mother’s request as she had betrayed him his entire life. He decides to fight against Arjuna, only to be killed by an arrow belonging to none other than Arjuna himself.

UW Kahaani

UW Kahaani is a nationally competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team based at the University of Washington in Seattle. UW Kahaani has placed at numerous national competitions in the collegiate Bollywood dance circuit, even earning a spot at the Legends Bollywood Dance Championship in 2019. “Kahaani” means “story” in English, and we hope to stay true to the name by telling stories through diverse international styles of dance to expand the exhilaration, love, and zest of the Bollywood industry. This year, we will be performing a set that we have been putting together over the entire year.

UW AWAAZ: “vOICE” IN HINDI

UW Awaaz is a South-Asian fusion a cappella group that takes songs from South-Asian and Western culture and creates harmonious arrangements of all varieties. Founded in 2009, Awaaz has followed in the tradition of other South-Asian a cappella groups while continuing to innovate the genre by incorporating elements from different cultures and media. From classic Bollywood hits by A.R. Rahman to popular American songs from different genres, we aim to cultivate fusions that provoke emotions of joy and nostalgia, while appealing to audiences of all musical backgrounds.

Margaret Tu

I’d like to share with the audience about Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples - we’re underrepresented on both the domestic and international levels. Political colonization and cultural assimilation by the foreign rulers almost killed our cultures. Yet, the resilience of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples can be easily seen by creative works such as the song I am singing, “LiúLàngJì” (流浪記). Composed by Panai Kusui, an indie-singer/activist in social movements of Taiwan’s Indigenous People’s right to self-determination, this song is often covered by indigenous singers such as Samingad Blubluone, a famous indigenous singer from Taitung, Taiwan.

Pei Zheng

Drunken Fishermen Singing in the Sunset 醉渔唱晚

I will perform one of the Ten Chinese Qin Classics, Drunken Fishermen Singing in the Sunset 醉渔唱晚. It is believed that Drunken Fishermen Singing in the Sunset was composed by two good friends 皮日休 and 陆龟蒙, both reputable literati in Tang Dynasty. While they were slowly rowing on the Songjiang River, they saw a drunken fisherman singing and they were moved and made this piece accordingly. Guqin is one of the most representative ancient Chinese traditional instruments with a history of thousands of years. However, Guqin means much more than an instrument because it is more of a symbol of Chinese high culture of intellectual class with profound philosophy and a distinctive musical system, which helps intellectual self-cultivation at the same time. I hope the audience could enjoy themselves while appreciating this unique music.

I want to share with the audience that the guqin is a very distinctive traditional Chinese instrument. It not only has a long history but is also an important symbol of the elite culture that belonged to ancient China’s intellectual class. Its musical system and esthetic principles are unique and completely different from western music. I hope the audience can gain a sense of that uniqueness from my performance.

Shun Liu and Ziqiao Liu: Peking Opera "Duan Mi Jian"

Shun and I were very local in Beijing. The influence of the elders in our family makes the traditional culture deeply rooted in our bodies. I have been learning crosstalk, local operas, and Taiping lyrics as a child. Shun has studied Peking Opera for nine years and has participated in various TV programs, winning awards in national competitions. In 2011, he attended in the 40 Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Australia in Vienna's Golden Hall. He also performed monkey operas in Los Angeles. These years, we did a lot of shows together in Seattle, and we hope to share this precious cultural heritage with more people in the world.

200 years ago, Hui, Han, Kun, and Bangzi troupe came to Beijing to celebrate emperor Qianlong's birthday. Some went back after their performances, while others stayed in the capital after their performances. The cultural heritage of Peking Opera is unfathomable, as it is integrated with the life and history of “Beijingers” and other parts of China.

Taiko Kai

Taiko Kai plays with a style that stems from both traditional and contemporary uses of taiko drumming. Taiko has a long history of being used in festivals, ceremonies, and theatre but current taiko groups continue to develop the art form by writing and performing songs inspired by jazz, hip-hop, and more modern sounds. We hope to foster an appreciation of taiko drumming as an art form that is both traditional and still very much alive today by playing songs that showcase this.

Taiko drumming has a long history in Japan and is used as a part of various celebrations and ceremonies. In the last century, taiko players began playing together in ensembles, using drums of varying size, which developed into the style now called kumi-daiko or group drumming. Taiko was brought over to North America by Japanese immigrants where it had a growth in popularity in the 1960s as Japanese-Americans sought to reconnect with their Japanese heritage in the wake of the civil rights movement.

In North America, taiko drumming, while still very similar to taiko drumming found in Japan, has since developed styles and stances more commonly found on this side of the Pacific. Today, many taiko groups including ours draw inspiration from traditional taiko patterns, folk dance movements, as well as more contemporary rhythms. Our uniforms include hachimaki (headbands), happi (coat or vest), and tabi (split-toed slippers) which are reminiscent of clothing workmen or festival-goers in old Japan might have worn.

Seattle Iranian Choir

The Seattle Iranian Choir will be performing a variety of traditional Iranian music. Iranian music is typically loosely divided into three styles: the first is a traditional style with a solo singer and a musical instrumentalist. The second is a pop style, very similar to its counterpart in the west. The third is a type of folk music which is somewhat between the other two. It is more lively than the traditional style while maintaining its roots and character. They will be performing renditions of Iranian folk songs that will showcase much of the culture of Iran.

SAYAW (Filipino Amercian Student Association, FASA)

Sayaw Filipino Folk Dance Troupe is a student-based performing arts dance group of the Filipino American Student Association at the University of Washington. Founded in 1917, FASA is an organization that strives to foster unity and pride among our members and surrounding communities through educational, political, cultural, and social advancement. Taking the name from a Filipino word meaning "dance," Sayaw shares and celebrates the stories of the rich heritage and culture of the Philippines through the artistic expression of dance. While striving to give Filipino Americans the opportunity to gain knowledge and awareness of their cultural heritage, Sayaw has also grown into a great community resource to learn and appreciate traditional Filipino culture, art, folklore, and history.

Annie Yao

I am performing a Chinese traditional Dai dance called Yue Zhi Hua Yu, or Dancing in the Moonlight. The Dai Nationality is one of the 56 ethnic groups that are officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. Dai people are known for their beautiful and elegant style of dancing. One unique element is their specific hand style that represents animal movements such as peacocks or bears. I have been dancing since I was 8 years old and have learned many different Chinese dance styles, but Dai has always been my favorite!