greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Cherry Blossom festival in Stony Brook this weekend
I've been to one in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and it was wonderful. Of all the things they mention in the article though, they say nothing about actual Cherry trees! 
Newsday article
That's weird... The link doesn't work. Here is the article:
From learning how to fold origami to watching a formal tea ceremony, usher in the beauty of spring with the sights and sounds of Japanese culture at this year's Cherry Blossom Festival. Members of the Japan Center of Stony Brook University have put together a day packed with regalia and raw excitement.
"This is a family-oriented event," says Gerard Senese, program director for community outreach with the Japan Center at Stony Brook. "For the children, the Taiko drumming is something that just thrills them, and the origami is something they can do for hours on end."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Several performances, displays and demonstrations will be happening simultaneously inside the Wang Center.
In the theater lobby, attendees will get a close-up look at bonsai, kimono, Ikebana (the Japanese style of flower arrangement) and Japanese pottery, which also will be for sale.
Guests can see demonstrations of Japanese-style brush painting and calligraphy, Shibori tie-dye and origami, including the work of an artist who uses sugar to create origami-style sculptures "that look like Swarovski crystals after he's done," Senese says.
Models will show off the latest kimono designs during a 2:15 p.m. fashion show inside the center's chapel.
PERFORMERS
Performances of classical, folk and modern dance and music will be presented throughout the day - ranging from the quiet elegance of traditional music and dance to the booming rhythms of Taiko drummers.
Dance performances run the gamut - from the traditional moves of dance company Ichifujikai, to the contemporary rhythms of 10tecomai, a dance troupe that puts traditional Japanese folk songs to a rock beat.
The kimono-clad group Miyabi, based in Manhattan, will play the Koto, a 13-string harp-like instrument many people probably have never seen before. But instead of standing up like a harp when it's played, the Koto is played horizontally. "It's a beautiful sight for the eyes," Senese says.
Among the other highlights: A performance by hip-hop dancer Kenichi Ebina.
"That's really a crowd-stopping performance," he says. "He just knocks people out with his hip-hop style," Senese says. "This year, he doubled the excitement."
FOR KIDS
Family-friendly activities include demonstrations in how to create origami, the proper way to wear a kimono and Japanese animation anime/manga. Kids can get their faces painted as a samurai, geisha or manga character.
Families can grab a bite at Jasmine, an Asian eatery on the main level.
What Cherry Blossom Festival
Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
When Noon-5:30 p.m. Saturday
Phone 631-698-2467
Web: http://www.ryushukan.com/matsuri/main.htm
Cost Free for exhibits; $10 for performances ($5 ages 6-12)
Copyright 2009 Newsday Inc.
Message edited 4/23/2009 3:12:58 PM.
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