"The young Huong Dao guys and gals were awesome. They proved to be good at everything they did, from hip hop, break dancing, to nice, soft rhythm, to charming "múa". " -- Loan Vo |
| "Timing was excellent throughout the program. OC/volunteers were very enthusiatic and "cheerful" despite how tired and hungry you all were! BRAVO!!" -- Lan Nguyen. |
"I like everything I saw, from the dance at EMP to the Tet festival at the Center House." -- Tu Nguyen. |
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Program Description 2005 This year we are pleased to announce the debut of the Cải Lương - Vietnamese Opera program. Phượng Mai & Tuấn Châu frequently appear in Văn Sơn Productions and will be our featured guests along with the Long Phụng Khúc traditional music group of Washington. Our featured guests at Thính Phòng - Chamber Music Program are Khánh Hà and Diễm Liên.
We also welcome to the Tết Festival
Theme Extravaganza Program a new sensation in the Vietnamese Music and
Theatre industry and Washington State home grown talent, Vy! Vy, was born and raised
in Olympia. Aside from training in dance studios, she attended South Puget
Sound Community College in Olympia where she danced professionally for a
non-profit organization called Positive Programs Inc in Puyallup, Washington. At
Western Washington University in Bellingham, she was the
co-captain/co-choreographer for the school’s hip-hop dance team. She also began
teaching recreational hip-hop classes at the university and at Wendy Setter’s
The Dance Studio. Vy also loves to sing.
In summer 2002, she began writing and recording original music with
VHProductions in Puyallup, Washington. She has taken dance classes from many
professional dancers like Brian Friedman (Britney Spears’ choreographer), Daniel
Cruz (who’s danced with Ashanti, Michael Jackson and N’Sync) and Jaffar Smith
(Brandy’s back-up dancer). She has performed for large audiences all over the
west coast, opening for D12, performing at Russell Simmons' Phat Farm/Baby Phat
promotions party in Seattle, and appearing in various showcases and concerts in
her hometown of Olympia, at KUBE 93’s Summer Jam, and the Disneyland Resort in
California.
Please see below for a detailed description of each program. THINH PHONG | LION DANCES | OPENING CEREMONY | CHILDREN'S PROGRAM | VIETNAMESE SPELLING BEE | VIETNAMESE OPERA PROGRAM | KNOWLEDGE BOWL | MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM | THEME PROGRAM | EXHIBITS | KIDS 'N TET | BOOTHS | COOKING DEMO |  NHAC THINH PHONGTet In Seattle of proud to present our third annual Evening of Chamber Music called Nhạc Thính Phòng. Stemming from the word thính meaning to listen, and phòng meaning room, this event offers an intimate atmosphere where performers sing and interact with the audience. This event provides music lovers the opportunity to enjoy music from their favorite singers in an elegant ambiance. This year, we are presenting an evening with the famous singers Khánh Hà and Diễm Liên on Saturday, February 5, 2005. As with last year, the event will be held at New Kowloon Seafood Restaurant from 7pm to midnight; doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $50 and include admission and dinner. For $10 off, download our coupon. To receive more information, email your questions to tickets@tetinseattle.org. LION DANCES
Lion dances and firecrackers are popular traditions to mark special occasions. The dance features unique and beautiful movements choreographed to portray the intricate interactions between the Dragon and Ông Ðia, the guardian of the earth and land. With drums and gongs, Ông Ðia spurs the Dragons to greet the audience, eat, rest, and sleep.
Firecrackers enhance the performance of the Lion Dance. In the old days, firecrackers were used to expel evil spirits from villages and to bring forth happiness. Nowadays, firecrackers are used to commemorate old traditions and to welcome visitors and the Spirit of Spring. The sounds of firecrackers reflect the animated spirit of Tet. Tet In Seattle is pleased to preserve the traditions to ring in the New Year. OPENING CEREMONY Ribbon Cutting: The Riboon Cutting Ceremony symbolizes the commencement of Tết Celebration of the New Year. Every year, Tết In Seattle invites important honorees to help bring in the new year.
Flag Procession & Anthems: The Vietnamese H.O. Group will carry both American and Vietnamese flags onto the stage. The American national anthem will be sung and members of TIS Organizing Committee and the audience will be invited to sing the Vietnamese National Anthem together. Moment of Silence: has become a tradition to honor and pray in memory of the fallen soldiers and all those who fought for Vietnam and those who died in the search for freedom.  Ancestral Homage Ritual: Is a Vietnamese tradition to pay homage to our ancestors during Tết. With incense in hand, family members stand in front of the ancestral shrine, offer prayers and ask for blessings for the coming New Year. At the festival, as is the custom, elders, in traditional clothing, will represent the Vietnamese community in performing this ancient ritual.
 Greetings: The Executive Director of Tết In Seattle and Public Relations Specialist welcome the public to the
9th annual Tết Celebration. Every year, Tết In Seattle invite important members of the community as well as public officers to the podium to welcome the new year.
Longevity Wishes For Our Elders: According to the Vietnamese culture, a person is considered to be one year older at the beginning of the New Year. The Vietnamese celebrate each other's birthday during Tết by offering best wishes for longevity to the elders and wishes for peace and prosperity to family and friends. It is our custom, first and foremost, to offer these wishes to our elders. On behalf of the Vietnamese community, the Organizing Committee invites elders in the audience to come forward and to receive best longevity wishes.  Offering Prosperity to Children: "Lucky money" in red envelopes signifies fortune, luck and happy wishes. When Children are given this "lucky money", it is call Lì Xì. However, children only get Lì Xì after their wishes for the elders have been announced. Generally, children range anywhere from little babies to an unmarried person. A small group of children representing all children announce their wishes for the representative elders, and after that the elders will Lì Xì all children in the audience.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM Wonderful, energetic children from the Vietnamese community and the Vietnamese Language Schools
such as - Văn Lang,
Ðắc Lộ, and Hồng Bàng devote endless hours, practicing on weekends to produce a charming and unforgettable program. The Children's Program includes beautifully choreographed dance routines and vocal performances. The Children's Program has become one of Tết In Seattle's most popular and endearing performances that packs the auditorium.
SPELLING BEE Spelling Bee
was a new competition in the 2004 Tết
Festival and quickly became a favorite and a new tradition. Many
people are surprised that the Vietnamese language is
mono-syllabic; however, it is common to juxtapose two words to compose or
expand meaning. Vietnamese is also one of the most tonal languages in the
world and highly complex in the use of diacriticals and accent marks to
represent different tones.
VIETNAMESE
OPERA PROGRAM (2005 debut program)Cải Lương, VIETNAMESE OPERA or also known as VIETNAMESE RENOVATED OPERA is a type of theatre that was developed in the early 20th century. It was first played by amateurs in southern Vietnam. Cải Lương may have many similarities with Chinese Opera. It is unique in that the themes of the plays traditionally are derived from hitorical legends and folklore. Many tells stories of Emperors and empires of Vietname. A Cải Lương orchestra consists primarily of guitars with concave frets and danakim. Over time, Cải Lương has grown to become a highly appreciated type of stage performing art. Famous Vietnamese Opera performers in this year's Tết Festival include Phượng Mai and Tuấn Châu. In their traditional Vietnamese clothing, these performers will tell a story in a form of a conversation but through the medium of lyrics and with musical accompaniment. The audience will have the opportunity to experience an unique form of music that intends to draw the listeners into the experience, the same emotional state as the performers and finds how the characters rise to resolve their challenges through the themes of morality, empathy, and compassion.
KNOWLEDGE BOWL this game of trivia challenges participants' knowledge of Vietnamese history, geography, customs, and traditions as well as world history, geography, and science. Approximately twenty teams from around King County compete for the championship title. The semi-finals and championship matches will take place
prior to the Tết Festival dates with the final round being held during the
festival. All are welcome to this educational and fun program.
MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM Beginning, intermediate and advanced students along with their instructors, give a non-stop hour long presentations of martial arts movements. The performance features basic martial arts skill followed by progressively more complex movements and interactions. This program has always been a favorite among festival goers. Come see the exciting and gravity-defying performance by students of
Vovinam Association of Washington.
THEME
PROGRAM - VIETNAMESE LEGENDS AND FOLKLORETết In Seattle brings new ideas to old traditions by creating annual themes that highlight unique Vietnamese cultural aspects during Festival. Each year's theme is woven through every program and activity at the Festival. This year, Tết in Seattle brings you the theme "Vietnamese Legends and Folklore". We will explore the stories that shaped Vietnam’s 5,000 years of cultural history. Please click
here for
a glance at the Legends and Folklore and Vietnam's 5,000 year history. For
the Vietnamese version please click
here. EXHIBITS Every
year, Tết In Seattle showcases an exhibit of Vietnamese traditions and customs
which brings out the spirit of our theme. This year, we are excited to bring you
Vietnamese Legends and Folklore. Through displays, artworks, photographs,
artifacts and more, the exhibit will walk audiences through the stories and
legends that shaped Vietnam’s cultural history. Come learn what life was
like back when kings and heroes defined the identity of this emerging country.The exhibit will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM during the two day festival at the Harrison Street Gallery at Seattle Center. Come learn something new. KIDS 'N TẾT Kids and adults are welcome to participate in arts and crafts. Volunteers teach kids to make the floral symbol of Tết: "Hoa
Mai" (yellow blossoms native to Vietnam), by twining yellow blossoms on real branches.
Other activities include: Temporary tattooing of zodiacs; making buttons of kids' favorite pictures and designs;
and coloring books and pictures related to Tết. Crayons, and pencils are available for all. Bring your imagination and be prepared for a fun hands-on experience. All arts and crafts materials are provided by Tết In Seattle. Kids 'n Tết is located on
both on the upper floor and main floor of the Center House.
BOOTHS Everyone can enjoy the tastes of Vietnam in our booth area. Vendors from well known local Vietnamese restaurants join the celebration by selling famous dishes and unique foods that mark the New Year. In addition, our booths also offer services from the community in the fields of health, vocational training, games, services and free promotional gifts.
Most booths are located in the new Fisher Pavilion. Come join the fun, grab a snack, learn about the community and win a free gift.
COOKING DEMO Tết
In Seattle debuted the cooking demonstration program in 2004, featuring the
yummy Gỏi Cuốn and Bò Bía. This hands on program quickly became a favorite as the
audience rolled up their sleeves to role their own samples and then partake!
Yum. This year the cooking demo is back by popular demand.Saturday, Feb. 5th, 2:30-3:30PM, our "Chefs" will feature the making of "Tôm Cari Nướng Vỉ Cuốn Sà-lách" - "Grilled Curry Shrimp in Lettuce Wrap" and "Chè Ba Màu" - "Tri-color Beans" dessert. Sunday, Feb. 6th, 11:30AM-12:30PM, features "Bún Thịt Nướng - "Grilled Pork
Noodle" and Chè Ba Màu. Come, learn, and have fun!!!  |
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