Asia Society Texas Celebrates Vibrant Tapestry of Local, International Talent in 2024 Performing Arts Fall Season
HOUSTON, December 17, 2024 — Asia Society Texas' fall season presented a vibrant tapestry of artistic expressions, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of diverse Asian American communities through a wide array of live performances.
The season opened with a reprise of Transcending Borders: The Ramayana Project, which originated with a sold-out performance at Asia Society Texas (AST) in 2023. This fall's production brought a unique retelling of the legendary story of Prince Rama to Miller Outdoor Theatre, through performances by Anjali Dance Company, Gamelan of the New Moon, Naga Srinidhi Kuruvada on percussion and Abhishek Balakrishnan on violin, Sri Lestari’s Indonesian Dance Ensemble, SaLaRu Sri Lankan Dance Academy, and musicians and dancers from the Thai Cultural Center of Wat Buddhavas, Houston.
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In its seventh year, the esteemed JLF Houston featured acclaimed authors such as Shashi Tharoor, musicians including Vidya Shah, and Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists Christina Rivera Garza and John Vaillant, among many other thinkers and speakers engaging in lively debates, discussions, and reflections on identity, culture, and politics.
Audiences were treated to the stirring play And the Claypot Speaketh, featuring an innovative depiction of a well-known folk story. Highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Houston's Muslim communities, the original work by local playwright Tazeen Zahida created a platform for meaningful dialogue to foster a deeper understanding of Muslim American experiences.
In addition, the Brown Theater's stage came alive with vibrant dance performances, beginning with renowned Indian classical dancer Malavika Sarukkai's Anubandh – Connectedness, a mesmerizing performance that wove together music, movement, and poetry to showcase the beauty of Bharatanatyam and explore themes of identity, spirituality, and cultural exchange. The acclaimed Baik-kwang Dance Company presented a stunning show blending traditional and contemporary styles through choreography that left audiences in awe of the beauty and expressiveness of Korean dance. The modern dance premiere of Butterfly Effect brought together dance ensembles Houston Contemporary Dance Company and Open Dance Project, who explored the intersection of movement, music, and visual arts through repertoire works and an original piece by choreographer Yue Yin.
The season also boasted a robust lineup of unique musical performances. Through original works by Houston-area composers, the inspiring concert Vibrant Voices: Voices from the Houston Asian American Archive celebrated the stories and experiences of Asian American immigrants through music and oral interviews. The fifth annual Turkish Music Festival presented Sounds of Anatolia, a vibrant celebration of the rich sounds and rhythms of Turkish music as Kinetic Ensemble, composer Erberk Eryılmaz, virtuoso clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski, and vocalist Dilan Selek İlhan shared classical Ottoman compositions and modern fusion and folk styles. Through Music for the River Jazz Suite, Vincent Hsu and his diverse ensemble of jazz musicians, including special guest Donald Harrison, wove together Asian, Latin, and African American influences to create a dynamic and inclusive sound that explored Hsu's love of jazz and his home in Taiwan. In a unique fusion of art and science, classical pianist and MD Anderson neurosurgery faculty Mei Rui presented a concert-experiment with violinist Cho-Liang Lin and cellist Nicholas Tzavaras that explored the effects of music on the human brain, showing the transformative power of music to heal, inspire, and connect.
About Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.