Cambodia takes spotlight Asia comes to Tacoma

PHOTOS BY PETER HALEY/THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Denise Yin peeks through the curtain as Daravy Oum, Melinda Oum and Amie Yin, from left, wait for their troupe, Cambodian Classical and Folk Dance of Tacoma, to be called to the stage Saturday at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s annual New Year Celebration at the Tacoma Dome.

STEVE MAYNARD
February 10th, 2008

Pat Walton enjoyed a plate of Korean kimchee and fried pork Saturday and watched Indian dancing, surrounded by hundreds of other people celebrating the Asian New Year in Tacoma.

Taking in the celebration for the first time, the 48-year-old Tacoman called it “spectacular.”
“I really enjoy the culture – and the food,” he said. “That’s part of the culture.”

A multicultural array of food, dance and music was among the attractions at the 10th annual New Year Celebration, organized by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center.

At least 4,000 people attended the all-day celebration at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, said Phil Chang, executive director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma.

They helped celebrate the new year, which began Thursday. This Asian New Year, based on the Chinese zodiac cycle, is the Year of the Rat.

Before sampling the Korean cuisine, Walton tried pot stickers and noodles prepared by members of the Chinese Christian Church of Tacoma.

Church member Ming Alwin of Fircrest watched the dancing with her 2-year-old daughter, Danni. Alwin said the celebration is a way for non-Asians and Asians to get to know the diversity of Asian cultures. Youths from her church demonstrated tai chi.

“We want to export our Chinese culture to the society,” Alwin said.

Asians make up 5.9 percent of Pierce County’s population, according to data from the U.S. Census and a 2006 survey cited in the celebration’s program.

The exhibition hall was lined with booths for non-Asian and Asian businesses. Up front, the backdrop for the stage was a giant image of Angkor Wat, the ancient temple in Cambodia.

Each year’s celebration highlights a different culture, and Cambodians enjoyed the spotlight this year.

At least 500 Cambodians attended from as far away as Everett, said Rong By of Olympia. The celebration included Cambodian bands and Cambodian folk and classical dances.

Cambodians want to make themselves known to the general population, said By, who helped emcee.

“The most important thing is that people over here know Cambodians exist as part of the melting pot,” he said.

That ethnic diversity was demonstrated when the Samoana Dancers from Stafford Elementary School in Tacoma took the stage.

The 45 girls, ages 5 to 11, include Cambodian, Russian, Korean, Latino, black and Samoan dancers, said teacher Ala Talo, who started the group four years ago.

They wore Samoan dresses with bright pink and blue flower prints. In four lines on stage, they swayed and stepped, performing Samoan dances and singing in Samoan before their largest crowd ever and for the first time at New Year Celebration.

Nadia Yun, a 9-year-old third-grader, said she likes Samoan dance.

“It’s nice and graceful,” she said.

Talo said the dance is “teaching them how to respect somebody else’s culture.” It also instills positive messages, “empowering the girls that they can do anything if they put their hearts into it,” she said.

“We are so nervous because this is our first year,” Talo said. “But they did good.”

Earlier, Mary Ohno presented Japanese dance and music from her Kabuki Academy for the 10th straight year.

Ohno’s seen the event expand and grow.

“The people start understanding,” she said, “and they’re more interested in other cultures.”