AungZay Institute's Summer Activities at The Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2010

The AungZay Institute, Inc. in association with the Thingyan Association, U Thant Institute, Inc., the Burmese American Collective, Myanmar Women of New York, and the Myanmar Youth Association Inc. proudly announce: A Burmese American Cultural and Heritage Showcase of programs and presentations for the 44th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC this summer: June 23-27; June 30- July 4.  See below for more detail or download this announcement for printing:  AungZay website-poster-April13-2010.PDF 

Festival Facts:

• Founded in 1967, and produced by the Smithsonian Institution in cooperation with the National Park Service

• Held for ten days every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday, averages one million visitors per year.

• Generates programs and exhibits in Smithsonian museums

In the summer of 2010 alongside other Asian Pacific American groups, local Burmese communities will participate in the 44th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. The festival will celebrate Asian Pacific American (APA) culture and heritage, focusing on the greater Washington, D.C. area Participation in the Festival is a chance in a lifetime opportunity for the Burmese Americans community to archive, research and document the Burmese American experience, presence and contributions to the local D.C. and national arenas.

Millions of national and international visitors will learn about Burmese American culture directly from the people who conserve, develop and live it.

Burmese Community Planning Committee:

Thingyan Association, U Thant Institute, Inc., AungZay Institute, Inc., Burmese American Collective, Myanmar Women of New York, Myanmar Youth Association Inc,,

The Planning Committee meets regularly on policies, operating procedures, and fund raising matters for successful implementation of this community project.

Proposed list of presentations:

( Still to be approved by Smithsonian Festival Organizers )

• Bando Martial Art

• Chinlone, Dobat

• Children Story Telling

• National Dress Costume

• National Dances

Chinlone Team Sport presentation will be managed AungZay Institute.  The following activities are underway to get ready for presentation:

1. A “Chinlone Magic Circle” ning group have been formed online. You can have fun, learn, collect and share Chinlone news, photos, blogs and make international friends interested in the chilone sport. You are invited to Join: http://chinlonemagiccircle.ning.com

2. A first time Chinlone class have been started in April 2010 in Queens, Elmhurst. It is in collaboration with Dr Khin Mg San, an expert Chinlone Master. See Poster of Chinlone classes below.

3. A short Chinlone documentary video directed and filmed in Myanmar, will be screened at the Festival and used for future promotion of Chinlone team sport.