The 2016 Charlotte Asian Festival will be held on May 14 at Ramsey Creek Park. The Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) will again be joined by the Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Department and Visit Lake Norman as co-organizers to introduce Asian culture and traditions to the greater Charlotte community.
For the first time in the 17 years history of the Asian Festival, there will be a competitive Multicultural Showcase of Asian Talents, open to all Asian Americans & their friends, of all ages.
It is the first Asian Music & Dance Fest 2016 aka AMDF. Founder Nini RB Bautista said, “The AMDF will be a fun gathering of all Asian communities to celebrate their diverse cultures through the performing arts, further enriching the cultural scene in the international city of Charlotte, recently named as the Best City in the U.S.”
Winning categories are Best in Dance Solo, Group Dance, Music Solo, Music Group, Vocal Solo, Special Award and the Judge’s Choice Award. One lucky winner will have a chance to perform at a Hollywood Red Carpet Event of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, HMMA) attended by top film & TV music agents, producers, managers & publishers.
The panel of all non Asian Judges include Tony Awardee, Corey Mitchell of the Northwest School of the Arts, Alina MacNichol of Opera Carolina, formerly of the Charlotte International Cabinet, & Jeff Cheen, Music & Show Producer, Founder of Charlotte Music Awards, sister organization of HMMA.
Participants for the AMDF come from places, far & wide such as Asheville, Columbia, & Rockhill, SC, etc. and will vie for trophies and other prizes. May is National Asian-Pacific Heritage Month.
CAACC & Festival Chairman Dr John Chen who established the Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival enthusiastically welcomes the AMDF. He said it will certainly raise the bar for the cultural performances at these twin festivals, the Asian Festival & Dragon Boat Races, which have been attracting thousands of visitors every year in celebration of the Asian Cultural Heritage Month of May.
The AMDF Organizing Committee includes Mae Armstead, of CFC, Cultural Program Co Chair; Aurea Barbee, FACC Secretary; Malaya Abed, Edelweiss de Guzman, Award winning Eco-Designer & Artist; Liezel Bell, FACC Director, &Yulie Armstrong, Filipino Eskuwelahang Munti of Charlotte.
