THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605190094
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, COLLEGE CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
At the top of Mount Trashmore, students from the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Center practiced their rhythmic exercises, which looked like a dance as their arms gracefully swept upward and downward. Before them, an American flag rippled in a slight morning breeze.
The scene captured the cross-cultural spirit of Asian Fest 1996, which drew more than 2,500 Asian-Americans from as far away as Washington, D.C., to a full day of activities at Mount Trashmore on Saturday.
The theme of this year's festival was ``Celebrate the Family,'' and the events reflected the cultures of 10 Asian nations. There are an estimated 50,000 Asian-Americans in Hampton Roads.
The festival started six years ago in the auditorium of Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk and just kept growing.
``We wanted to recognize the contributions of the Asian community, and that's why we started the fest,'' said Dr. Peter Chang, one of the event's founders.
Chang, a native of Hunan Province in China, said that Asians and Pacific Islanders have always emphasized the family.
``It is the parents' responsibility to teach their children to keep the balance between the two cultures,'' said Chang, who immigrated to the United States in 1952.
The sight of families strolling and sampling ethnic food and customs reflected the heritage of various Asian nations, including Korea, Japan, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan and China.
At the children's park, Andrew Xie of Virginia Beach and his 4-year-old daughter, Cathy, played on the seesaw.
``We came here to learn more about the Asian community,'' said Judy Xie, Cathy's mother, watching her husband and daughter play from under a nearby tree.
Xie, who came with her family to the United States from L'ao Ning Province in China just two months ago, is just beginning to learn English. She enjoys the American culture but does not want her daughter to forget her heritage.
Joyce Wang, who was at a booth demonstrating Chinese calligraphy, said the festival is particularly important for developing cultural pride in youth who participate.
``The festival, through the music, dancing and exercises, is a way for them to get acquainted with their heritage, to know that they are not alone in this community, they are not isolated, and that they can be a part of the mainstream of American society,'' she said.
Many Asian-American youths said the festival helps them bridge differences between Asian family customs and American practices.
Andy Rham, a 14-year-old from Richmond, said that the American and Asian cultures are very different.
``Asians are more respectful to each other as friends and family than Americans,'' said Rham, who is half Vietnamese and half Laotian. As an Asian-American youth, Rham said he has a responsibility to represent his culture and show his ``Asian pride.''
Local celebrities got into the action. Lauren Yee, a reporter from WVEC-TV, shared her experiences as an Asian-American. Mayor Meyera Oberndorf formally proclaimed Saturday as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Day.
Representatives from each nation took a turn on the center stage.
There was a whirl of gold, red, pink, green and yellow as young Indian girls danced the ``Desi Prem'' - a modern Indian romantic dance.
The dancers were happy to share a part of their culture.
``We don't want people to forget about learning about different people. We wanted to show that this is our culture and it is a good culture,'' said Janet Baharij, 12, who is Indian and attends Kempsville High School. Janet danced the Desi Prem along with her friends and twin sister, Jennifer.
Asian martial artists demonstrated the breaking of wooden blocks, folk dancers from all representative nations performed, and a Cambodian wedding ceremony was re-enacted.
People with no Asian background enjoyed the show.
``It's nice being able to see cultures that have so many differences have something in common,'' said Roy Hadjinlian, 15, an Armenian-American student at Tallwood High School. ``There is a sense of tradition seeing the different ethnic dances and arts passed on through the generations.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by L. TODD SPENCER on page B1
Dancers from the Tidewater Korean Language School are a showcase of
artistry at Asian Fest 1996, held at Mount Trashmore in Virginia
Beach on Saturday. The daylong celebration highlighted the cultures
of the estimated 50,000 Asian-Americans in Hampton Roads, and
featured dancing, music, crafts and ethnic foods. Story on Page B4.
L. TODD SPENCER photo
At the Tidewater Korean Baptist Church booth, Johnathan Lee, left,
his grandmother, Okhee Duty, Nina Anglin, and Soon Niles serve food.
Ethnic foods were a big hit at Saturday's festival.
by CNB